PUBLISHED AND FOR SALE BY 

ROBINS & SMITH, 

NO. 170 MAIN STREET, HARTFORD. 



S#^BI 



Hall's Series of Reading Books. 

The Reader's Oiiide 

Is the first in a series of very popular reading books, by John Hall, 
Esq., late Principal of the Ellington High School, Conn. This book 
is designed for High Schools and Academies. 12mo. sheep, 333 pages. 

The Reader9§ Manual 

Is the second in the series, and is designed for Common Schools. 
Of the first edition of this work, 2000 copies were taken off the pub- 
lishers hands in about eight weeks from the time of its publication, 
and it has the best evidence of being a superior book for Common 
Schools. 

The Primary Reader. 

This book is the third and last of the series, and is designed for the 
younger classes in Common Schools. 

The following are a few of the many Recommendations received by 
the publishers of the above series of reading books. 

Fi'omJ. P. Brace, Principal of the Hartford Female Seminaiy. 

I have examined, carefully, the new Reading Book of Judge Hall's, 
and have no hesitation in saying that I have never met with one so 
well adapted to the wants of the community as this treatise. The 
care, the taste, and the judgment exhibited in the selection of the 
pieces, — the appropriateness of the rules to the habits of New England 
Schools and Colleges, and to the best models of our New England 
orators; the great distinctness with which they are expressed, all ren- 
der it a valuable book for our schools and academies^ 



From Mr. D. H. Chase, Principal of the Preparatory School, con- 
nected loith the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. 

An examination of " The Reader's Guide" has satisfied me that it 
more fully meets the wants of Schools than any similar work now in 
use. Its merits consist mainly in an excellent analysis of Primitive 
Sounds — an accurate description of the positions of the Organs of 
Speech — copious instructions on Inflections and Prosody, and an ad- 
mirable adaptedness of the selections to the practice of the Scholars. 
I shall adopt the work, and recommend it to the attention of others 
engaged in instruction. 

Principal of Connecticut Literary Institution. 

I have examined "The Reader's Guide" by John Hall, Esq., Prin- 
cipal of the Ellington School, and am gratified that the public are 
furnfshed in this work with so valuable an auxiliary to the attainment 
of a correct style of reading, and shall immediately introduce it into 
the Seminary. 

From William M. Holland, A. M., Professor of Ancient Languages. 

Washington College, Hartford. 
Few persons read well — few, even of those whose duties require 
them to read in public. A practical guide to the attainment of this 
useful art, cannot fail to be acceptable both to teachers and pupils. 
The ripe scholarship and judgment of Mr. Hall, together with his 
great experience and success as a teacher, led me to expect a valuable 
treatise when I opened his volume, and the expectation has been fully 
realized. In Part First, the analysis of the elementary sounds in our 
language, and the description of the position of the organs in forming 
them, are striking, and, so far as I know, wholly original. It is evi- 
dent that the author has devoted to this part of his work great study 
and practice ; and its utility will readily be perceived. The new 
ideas in this part of the volume, will be of more value to the practical 
teacher, than the cost of the whole. 

Inflections, Cadence, Emphasis, &c., are discussed in the Second 
Part. The author's principles and rules are evidently the result of 
original investigation and experience ; and are much more concise, 
clear and practical, than any others I have seen. 

Prosody is very properly made the subject of the Third Part. Much 
new light is thrown upon the quantity of syllables in poetry ; and the 
different kinds of English verse are briefly described and illustrated by 
examples. 

The Fourth Part consists of well selected reading lessons, so marked 
as to exemplify the preceding rules and principles. The lessons, so 
far as T have read them, are excellent. 

Altogether, the " Reader's Guide" appears to me the best treatise on 
the art of reading, both for teachers and pupils, I have ever seen. 

From Professor Emerson, of Andover Theological Seminary. 
I am happy to say, that I think the Reader's Guide a truly excellent 
work, every where fraught with useful remarks and directions, and 
characterized by an air of original and interesting investigation, which 
is fitted to produce a two-fold benefit to the pupil — to lead him both 
to think for himself, and to think right, on the important practical 
topics which are there presented. I hope it will have a wide circula- 
tion. On some minor points, I should feel disposed to differ from the 
ftuthor. I think, for instance, that there are more vowel sounds in 
our language than are enumerated in the book. But the grand princi- 
ples ^em to me tb be as well fbunded as they arc happily presented. 



3 

From Professor E. A. Andrews, Boston, to the Author. 
So far as I have been able to examine the " Reader's Guide," and to 
reflect upon the principles upon which it is founded, it appears to me 
deserving- of a very high place in the class of books intended to teach 
the art of Reading. The account which you have given of the simple 
sounds of the language, and the notation by means of which the various 
inflections of the voice are denoted, are peculiarly clear and satisfactory. 
The reading lessons are probably second to none which have been pub- 
lished, in their adaptation to the purpose for which they are selected. 

From Heman Humphrey, B. D., President of Amherst College, to 

the Author. 
John- Halt., Esq. 

Dear Sir, — I have looked over your " Reader's Guide" with no or- 
dinary interest and satisfaction. Any one may see at a glance, that it 
embodies the results of a great deal of experience ; and I am sure that 
an enlightened public cannot be slow to appreciate and acknowledge 
its merits. For myself, I have no hesitation in saying, that I am not 
acquainted with any elementary book of the kind so well adapted, in 
all respects, to answer the great end to which it aims. 

I agree with you, perfectly, that the legitimate object of education 
is to elevate the mind of the pupil ; and that this never can be done by 
that extreme simplification, which is now so popular in the whole 
range of elementary instruction. 

I am particularly pleased with the Parts I. and II. fraught, as they 
are, with the original and discriminating remarks in regard to training 
the organs of speech, to accent, faults of utterance, cadence, pauses^ 
interrogative sentences, einphasis, 8lc. This portion of the "Read- 
er's Guide," must have cost you much time, as well as careful and 
discriminating observation. 

Prosody, as you remark, has been strangely going out of fashion, of 
late ; and I am glad that you have given it that prominence in Part III. 
which its importance so justly demands. 

Wishing you every encouragement in your efforts to advance the 
cause of education, I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, 

From Simeon Hart, Esq., late Principal of Farmington Academy. 

After an examination of Judge Hall's " Reader's Guide," I am pre- 
pared to express my conviction of its excellence, and its peculiar 
adaptedness to the wants of our academies and schools. 

The judicious author, long engaged in superintending the instruc- 
tion of youth, is eminently qualified to direct and aid others, who are 
devoting their lives to the same employment. 



The Reader's Manual, : designed for the use of Common Schools 
in the United States. By John Hall, late Principal of the Ellington 
School, author of the Reader's Guide, and Primary Reader. 
From the Connecticut Observer. 

" The work now before us, bears the same marks of sound judgment, 
accurate taste, and virtuous feeling, which distinguish his former 
publications. We doubt not it will find its way into all the schools of 
Connecticut ; and we can recommend to our brethren in Massachu- 
setts, whose school books we thankfully receive, in all deserving 
cases, to adopt this work in place of certain reading books of very in- 
erior grade, which we are about to cast out." 



From the Editor of the Congregationalist, Hartford, August, 1S39. 

The Reader's Manual. The author of this book is well known 
by the public as an eminent critical scholar, and a successful teacher 
of youth. Much of his peculiar skill in the business of teaching, has 
been understood to result from the favorite application of his ingen- 
ious powers to the practice of philosophical discrimination and mental 
analysis. This, too, is just the cast of mind which would be of special 
service in an attempt to prepare a reading book on the principle of the 
one before us, in which not only the selection of pieces appears to be 
peculiarly judicious, but a system of notation is employed to guide the 
learner in the modulations of his voice, agreeably to the nicest and yet 
the most natural dictates of the sense. 

The Reader's Manual is one of a series of readingbooks by the same 
author, consisting of the Reader's Ckude, and the Primary Reader, and 
intended for the use of a class of learners between those for whom the 
other books were designed, and which is by far the most numerous 
class in our common schools. 

From C. Hammond, Principal of Monson Academy. 
We would present our acknowledgm.ents for the copies of Hall's 
Reading books, made to us last summer, and inform you, that they are 
introduced upon our catalogue of books used in the institution. We 
think them the best of any we have yet seen, to illustrate and teach 
the principles of a just and elegant elocution. Tl)e name and literary 
standing of the author is alone an ample recommendation of the works. 

From I. H. Gallup, A. M., Principal of the JSTorwich Eclectic School. 
I have examined the Reader's Manual, and cannot allow this oppor- 
tunity to pass without expressing my admiration of the work. Its 
selection of matter surpasses any other I have ever seen, for the same 
purpose, and, for its tendency to promote the interests of morality and 
religion, is, I believe, unequalled. I shall use every exertion to in- 
troduce this excellent Reading Book wherever my influence extends, 
and most_ cordially do I wish the author and publishers the success 
they so richly deserve. 

All Ifisiproved §y§teai(a of AriJliiiBetic, 

For the use of Common Schools and Academies, by J. Olney, A. M. 
12mo. 312 pages. The following are among the numerous Recom- 
mendations furnished the publishers. 

The following is from Rev. Silas Totten, D. D., President of Wash- 
ingto7i College, Hartford, Conn. 
I have carefully examined Olney's Arithmetic, and think from its 
simplicity, clearness, and practical nature, that it would be a useful 
book for Common Schools, 

Frojn Mr. S. Bliss, Principal of the South School, Hartford. 
I have examined, and used in my School, "A Practical System of 
Arithm.etic," by J. Olney, A. M., and believe it to be just such a work 
as our schools have for a long time greatly needed. The rules are 
given in plain, concise, and familiar language, such as any child of 
ordinary capacity can fully understand. The ground which the author 
has taken, I consider a judicious one, and wish him much success. 



From A. M. Hungerford^ Principal of Southington Academy. 

I consider your System of Arithmetic better adapted to facilitate the 
progress of the learner, and more practical than any now in use. As 
such, I would cheerfully recommend it to all who are interested in the 
improvement of our Common Schools. 

From Rev. J. Going, D. D., President of Granville College, Ohio. 

This treatise on Arithmetic, will, we think, fully sustain Mr. Olney's 
previous reputation as a writer of school classics. It contains a great 
deal in a small compass, being more comprehensive in its plan than 
most works of an elementary character, at the same time that it is as 
simple as the nature of the case admits or requires. In the second 
part to each branch of the science, he gives an illustration of each 
rule and process, and thus renders it an intelligible and rational affair. 
The author thus avoids the two extremes found in many other works, 
of either being, on the one hand, altogether didactic, affording to the 
pupil mere authority, or, on the other, of explaining and simplifying 
every thing to insipidity. 

In the hands of a skilful teacher, this work will well prepare the 
learner who shall thoroughly study it, for the counting-room, and 
enable him to perform, with facility, the various arithmetical calcula- 
tions required in the business transactions of life. 

From Rev. E. Davis, late Principal of the Westfield Academy, Mass. 
I have examined Olney's Arithmetic, and have submitted it to some 
few school teachers. It is our unanimous opinion, that it is a very 
valuable book — one that we can conscientiously recommend. 

From Mr. O. J\'orcross, of Belchertown, Mass., a gentleman who 
deservedly rayiks high as a Mathematician. 
Mr. Olney's Arithmetic is, in my opinion, a work worthy ofrecovi- 
mendation. It contains as much of the science of numbers, as prop- 
erly belongs to Arithmetic. Its subjects are well arranged, and its 
illustrations are as scientific as the capacities of most students require. 
Persons who think for themselves, will undoubtedly find the work 
fully equal to its description in the preface. 

From B. F. Hedden, Teacher of the Public School, Mystic Bridge, 
Stonington, Conn. 
This is to certify, that I have examined Olney's Arithmetic, and 
consider it better calculated to facilitate the progress of scholars in 
this branch, than any other work I have seen ; and shall introduce it 
it into my school as soon as practicable. The improvements in this 
work are numerous and important. I can therefore cheerfully recom- 
mend it to the attention of teachers, and all who feel an interest in the 
improvement of our Schools. 

From Ehenezer Denison,Jr. Esq., Stonington, Conn. 
Having recently had opportunity to examine a System of Arithmetic 
by J. Olney, I am' pleased to say that I can accord to it my unqualified 
approbation. It possesses many and decided improvements over those 
already in use ; as it contains some things entirely new, and simplifies 
and abridges some rules which have been both tedious and perplexing. 
It is just such a work as is needed in our schools, and will be found an 
invaluable acquisition to our primary books. I have had occasion to 
1* 



instruct in almost all the systems now used, and think this should, as 
I hope it speedily will, take the place of them all. 

From Br. D. S. Hart, an eminent Mathematician. 

I have cursorily examined Olney's " Impi'oved System of Arithme- 
tic," lately published, and am highly pleased with the arrangement of 
the subjects, and the familiar and clear illustration of some of the more 
difficult parts. Especially worthy of notice is the method of extract- 
ing the Cube, and other Roots. This method was originally applied 
to the solution of Cubic and higher Equations, by Messrs. Atkinson, 
Homer and Holdred, who discovered it independently of each other. 
It has never, to my knowledge, been applied in any Arithmetic to the 
extraction of the Cube, and higher roots, previous to its insertion in 
Mr. Olney's. This fact gives this work a great advantage over all 
others on the subject, and entitles it to universal introduction into our 
schools. The rule for finding the least common multiple, is the only 
one which will hold good in all cases ; and though well known to Al- 
gebraists, it is surprising that it should so long have escaped the notice 
of writers on Arithmetic. On the whole, I can cheerfully recommend 
this v;ork to all teachers and others concerned in the education of youth, 
as the best system of Arithmetic yet published, and heartily wish its 
adoption into our schools. 

From J. E. JVoodworth, Teacher of JVew London Grammar School, 
I have had opportunity but for a cursory examination of Olney's 
•'Improved System of Arithmetic," yet feel prepared to express a de- 
cidedly favorable opinion of its merits. Among many excellencies 
which it has in common with other similar treatises of deserved repu- 
tation, are some peculiar to itself, such as the clear analysis from 
which is deduced the rule of operation in the solution of problems, the 
demonstration of the ground rules, &c., which entitle it to the very 
favorable consideration and patronage of the judicious public. 

Fro7n F. A. Fisk, Principal of Barre Academy, Mass. 
I have attentively examined Mr. Olney's New Arithm.etic, and' after 
a years practical acquaintance with it as a teacher, anr prepared to ex- 
press unhesitatingly my entire confidence in it as a work of unusual 
merit, characterized by a simplicity truly philosophical, and admirably 
adapted to the minds for which it is intended. I have invariably 
found, on the part of pupils, a clearer and readier apprehension of the 
principles of the science, from this book than from any other which I 
have employed. I cannot avoid expressing the conviction that, should 
its use become universal, the science of Arithm.etic would be far better 
understood. 

" At a regular meeting of the School Committee of the town of West 
Springfield^ Oct. 29, 1839. 

Voted, That, having examined an " Improved System of Arithmetic, 
by J. Olney," we hereby recom^mend it as embracing all the principal 
excellencies of previous works uoonthe subject; while, by its simpli- 
city of arrangement and clearness of explanation, it altogether surpasses 
them ; and that we also recommend that it be introduced into the sev- 
eral schools in this town, as new text bcoks in Arithmetic may be 
Vr'anted. 



Introduction to the Study of Geography, 

Intended to precede his large work, by J. Olney, A. M. This 
work has eight maps from steel plates, with more than :<eventy engra- 
vings, principally from original designs ; improved edition. Decidedly 
the best work of the kind in use. 

Revised Statutes. 

The Constitution and laws of Connecticut, reduced to questions and 
and answers, for Schools. By William B. Wedgwood, member of the 
Bar in New York. 

This book is highly recommended by the most enlightened friends 
of Common Schools, and is adapted to Schools, families, and individu- 
als. All should make themselves acquainted with this work that they 
may know what are their rights, privileges and duties, and thus be pre- 
pared to occupy with honor their proper position in the commonwealth. 

The following are among the commendatory notices of the work. 

From Hon. Thomas S. Williams, Chief Justice of the State of Con- 
necticut. 

Sir: — I have looked over the work you put into my hands, entitled 
" Statutes of the State of Connecticut, and additional Laws to 1844, 
reduced to questions and answers, for the use of Schools and Families, 
by William B. Wedgwood, A. M," and from a cursory examination, 
think it well adapted for the purposes intended, to give to the young 
the leading features of our constitution, and those statutes which have 
the most close connection with the ordinarv duties and transactions of 
life. 

The plan of the author did not admit, nor the object require, an ab- 
stract of all the statutes — but a judicious selection only. Much valua- 
ble information is communicated in a familiar way, which would not 
be otherwise acquired without more research than is to be expected 
from the young — for whose benefit the work is principally designed — 
and I hope you will find that your labor has not been in vain. 
I am respectfully yours, &c. 

Thomas S. Williams. 

Hartford, March 29, 1844. 

From Hon. JVoahA. Phelps, Secretary of State. 

Hartford, February 21, 1844. 
Dear Sir : — Having examined the book recently published by you, 
entitled " Statutes of the State of Connecticut, and additional Laws to 
eighteen hundred and forty-four, reduced to questions and answers, 
for the use of Schools and Families :" and deeming the work worthy of 
public patronage, I cheerfully recommend it to the use of the Common 
Schools and Academies in this State. Noah A. Phelps, 

From Francis Fellowes, Esq. 

Dear Sir : — T have examined the work entitled " Statutes of the 

State of Connecticut, reduced to questions and answers," published by 

you, and regard the same as affording very important facilities to the 

youth of the state in their endeavors to become acquainted with her 

1** 



8 

constitution and laws. I observe that the different subjects comprised 
in the constitution and statutes are conveniently classified, and are 
accompanied with definitions, and pertinent questions and illustrations. 

I know of no other work of a similar kind that has ever been pub- 
lished in this state, at all suited to the purposes of a text book on the 
subjects of which it treats, for academies and schools, or which either 
teachers or pupils can make use of with advantage, and I recommend 
it as adapted to be eminently useful to those who would become ac- 
quainted with those topics in the statute law of the state, of which no 
citizen should remain ignorant. Yours, very respectfully, 

Francis Fellowes. 

Hartford, March 2, 1844. 

From Rev. Silas Totten, D. D., President of Washington College. 
The Statutes of Connecticut, abridged for the use of schools and 
families, should be in the hands of every citizen of the state. This 
little book presents an abstract of the laws of the state in such a form 
that they can be understood by all, and if extensively circulated will 
do muchtoprevent unnecessary litigation, and instruct the mass of the 
people in their duties as citizens. S. Totten. 

From Hon. Borneo Lowrey, 

Mr. Gurdon Robins, 

Dear Sir : — I have examined Mr. Wedgwood's " Statutes of the 
State of Connecticut, reduced to questions and answers for the use of 
schools and families." I have, for a long time, felt the necessity of a 
work of this kind, and have repeatedly suggested the importance of it, 
to those interested in our common schools. This work seems to be 
well calculated, not only to give to the children of our population that 
knowledge which will be useful for them, but also to afford, in a cheap 
and convenient form, important information to those in more advanced 
life. I hope the work will be extensively circulated. 

Yours respectfully, 

R. Lowrey. 

Southington, March 2S, 1844. 

From the Christian Secretary. 

The above work has evidently been prepared with much care and 
labor, and in point of style and execution, and adaptation to the object 
for which it is intended, will not suffer in comparison with any book 
of the kind. We hesitate not to say, this work should be in all our 
Schools and Academies and Families throughout the State, and be 
universally read, that our citizens, and especially the youth of our 
State, may learn more fully to understand and appreciate their rights 
and duties as members of this great Republic. 

The work is sustained by the recommendations of competent men 
in the legal department, to whom the work in the various stages of its 
progress has been submitted for examination and correction. 

From the Religious Herald. 
It is a work which ought to be in the hand of every citizen of Con- 
necticut, and made a text book in every school. 

From the Christian Freeman. 
This is an admirable book, not only for schools, but for all persons 
who would obtain a general knowledge of our laws, and have not time 



to read more voluminous works. A synopsis of the Constitution and 
laws is given in simple language, avoiding technical terms, and an in- 
dex to the whole is added, greatly increasing its value as a book of 
reference. 

From the Baily C our ant. 

Statutes of Coivnecticut. — Tliis little book has been prepared 
more especially for schools, but will be found valuable as a book of 
reference by all classes. It gives a synopsis of the Constitution and 
Laws of the State, free from verbiage and technicalities, and so 
arranged that by the aid of an index, any subject to which they allude, 
can be turned to in a moment. It is recommended by the legal pro- 
fession. 

From the Hartford Journal. 

Mr. Wedgwood has placed the State of Connecticut, as well as New- 
York, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire, under great obliga- 
tions, by simplifying these statutes and laws to the comprehension of 
all. It has hitherto been a matter of regret that in our system of 
Common School Education, no opportunity has been oCered of in- 
forming the scholar relative to the Constitution and Laws of the State 
in which he resides, and under which he must, at some time or other, 
be called to act. " Universal instruction should be the companion of 
universal suffi-age," and we cannot commend the above little work too 
strongly to the people of Connecticut. We hope to see it placed in 
the hands of every school boy in the State, and we trust immediate 
steps will be taken to introduce it in our common schools. 

From the Patriot and Eagle. 
Statutes of Coivnecticut. — We have given some attention to 
the book bearing the above title, containing about 100 pages, lately 
offered to the public for the use of schools, which should be in the 
possession of every family in the State. It makes the youth familiar 
with the principles of the Constitution and Laws of the State, and 
teaches all, " that universal instruction should be the companion of 
universal suffrage." It treats of the Constitution, declaration of right*, 
distribution of powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary — electors, 
religion, impeachment, oaths, duties of grand jurors, and petit jurors, 
crimes punishable by death, inquests, &.c. We deem it precisely that 
kind of work that has long been needed in our schools. The book is 
for sale by the publislier in this city, at a low price even for school 
books. 

From the Principal of the Bacon Academy, Colchester. 
Approving as I do, the design and execution of the work, I hope that 
it may be introduced into schools and academies throughout the 'state. 
It seems to supply an obvious defect in our system of general educa- 
tion. Whatever other valuable instruction is imparted under this 
system, very little is given that aims at a direct preparation for the du- 
ties of the citizen. Intelligent as we are, the great majority of our 
electors are not well acquainted with the principles of our Constitu- 
tion, or with the workings of the machinery of government. The in- 
formation that is gained, in respect to these things, is often imperfect, 
and the result of accident rather than any thing else. The man re- 
mains in ignorance, or after years of darkness, stumbles upon what 
should have been one of the lessons of his boyhood. 

Lewis R. Hurlbut. 



10 
Youth's Manual of the Constitution of the U. States, 

Adapted to Classes in Schools, and general use. By Francis 
Fellowes, Esq. 

School Testaments. 

Superior edition. 12mo., sheep. 

New Primer. 

By George H. Foote : Presenting a great improvement in the mode 
of teaching the child the first rudiments of learning. 

Memoir of Rev. A. Wettleton, D. D,, 

For many years known as a very successful laborer among the 
churches throughout the country, and more recently as Professor of 
Pastoral Theology in the Theological Institute at East Windsor, Conn. 
By Rev. Bennet Tyler, D. D. 

The first edition of this work has been noticed by many of the reli- 
gious journals of the day, and alm-ost without exception, in terms of 
high commendation. The following are selected as specimens ; and 
they will serve to show the estimation in which this work is held by 
the Christian public. 

From the Biblical Repository for October, 1S44. 
" We have seized this book just issued from the press, with great 
interest, and perused it with uncommon satisfaction. We are sure it 
will be read by thousands who have been savingly profited by Dr. Net- 
tleton's labors, and by thousands who have heard the report of his 
labors, and his success as a minister of the gospel. The book will be 
very interesting and useful to ministers and churches at the present 
day. Dr. Nettleton's views of the nature of religion, and the means 
and mxanner of promoting it, agree with those of Edwards, Brainerd 
and Dwight, and all the leadinir divines and Christians in this country. 
And what is more, they agree with the infallible word of God. This 
memoir is ably written by a discerning and faithful friend and fellow 
laborer, and is every way worthy of the subject. We have been de- 
lighted with the whole work, particularly with the closing part." 

From the JVew York Observer for September 2S, 1844. 

"It gives us great satisfaction to announce the publication of this 
volume of nearly 400 pages, containing memoirs of one of the most 
extraordinary preachers of the gospel with whom God has ever blessed 
this country. 

The record of the wonderful revivals which occurred under Mr. 
Nettleton's ministry, and the numerous instances of conversion in im- 
mediate connection with his labors, furnish most interesting reminis- 
cences ; and the wide circulation of the volume among our churches, 
will be greatly useful." 

From the JSTew York Evangelist for October 10, 1844. 
" Mr. Nettleton was an extraordinary man, and served a glorious 
purpose in his day and generation. Few men, since the apostolic 
days, have been honored with such signal success in preaching the 
word, and in the conversion of sinners as he ; and to his spirit and 
preaching more than any other human instrumentality, is that career 



11 

of revivals which constitutes such a marked characteristic of the 
church at the present day, and the true glory of the age, to be traced. 
If others read it with as much interest as we have, they will pronounce 
it, as it is, one of the best and most useful of that class of works — 
Christian biography." 

From the JVew England Puritan for September 20, 1844. 

" We have known for some time that Dr. Tyler was engaged in 
preparing a memoir of this man of God, and we were expecting to find 
it a deeply interesting volume ; but it is even more interesting than 
we anticipated. We predict for it a wide circulation, and a great 
amount of good in its influence. Dr. Nettleton's influence and labors 
for Christ, have not ceased with his death. Though dead, he yet 
speaketh by his example ; and his record, though on high, will long 
be precious on earth. 

Few men have ever lived in this country, who have made a deeper 
impression on their generation than the subject of this memoir. And 
this impression was of the purest and most elevated character. Unlike 
that of heroes and statesmen, it was not, for the most part, circumscri- 
bed by time, and confined to earth, but it is to roll on through eterni- 
ty, and dispense its richest blessings in heaven. 

We are glad that the execution of the work fell into the hands of one 
so competent as Dr. Tyler. No other living man, probably, was so 
competent. If the biographer had allowed himself more time, he 
might have made the work more perfect, though we observed no 
special evidence of hasty preparation. We would commend the 
volume as worthy of a careful perusal." 

From the JVew England Puritan for October 18, 1844. 

" After a perusal of this book more at our leisure, we are more con- 
vinced of the high utility of the work. We feel that it is highly de- 
sirable that it should be extensively read, just at this time, in the 
general and lamentable absence of revivals in our churches. The 
book consists very much of descriptions of revival scenes, and these 
can hardly be read by those who desire the renewal of such blessed 
scenes, without giving new strength to that desire, and adding new 
fervency to prayer for a revival. And if that book could now have an 
extensive reading in all our churches, it might be, of itself, a means 
of a general revival. And if there is matter in tlie life of Harlan Page 
to produce such quickening of the efforts of other Christians, there is 
much more in the life of Nettleton, who was still more wise to win 
souls, and honored with still more success." 

From the Christian Observer for JVovemher 22, 1844. 

" This is a faithful record of the life, labors, and character of a min- 
ister of Christ, whose moral worth and eminent usefulness for many 
years of his ministry, are well known to the church. In preparing it 
for the press. Dr. Tyler has rendered a valuable service to the cause of 
truth and holiness." 

From the Presbyterian for JVovember 30, 1844. 

"Although this volume has reached us at rather a late date, we hail 
it as a happy delineation of the life and labors of a man whom we 
highly esteem-ed, and with whom we had much pleasant intercourse. 
Dr. Nettleton was in the highest sense of the word, a great man. 
During the vigor of his life, he abounded in labors of love, and works 
of faith, and was perhaps more favored than any man of his age, in 



12 

bringing souls into the kingdom of God. In the numerous revivals 
which occurred under his ministry, he displayed great wariness and 
judgment, in repressing mere animal excitement, and time has proved 
that they were the genuine works of the Spirit. 

We hope this memoir may yet speak when its subject is dead, and 
prove the means of recalling those times, when the word of the Lord 
was mighty in pulling down the strong holds of sin." 

From the Christian Reflector, Boston, October 17, 1844. 
Memoir of the Life and Character of Rev. Asahel, Net- 
TLETON, D. D. By Bennett Tyler, D. D. Hartford: Robins and 

Smith. 1844. 

Seldom have the American people been favored with a religious 
biography more edifying and instructive than this of Nettleton. 
Among the Congregational churches of New England, especially of 
Connecticut, he was for many years an apostle ; for earnest, active 
piety, for self-denying toil, for a wise direction of effort, and for per- 
sonal efficiency, he was more like Whitefield and like Paul, than any 
American preacher of his times. This memoir of his life was prepared 
by one who was intimate with him during the latter part of his history, 
and who was abundantly qualified for a work which he has accom- 
plished most satisfactorily. Were all evangelists like the pious Net- 
tl'^ton, there could certainly be no reasonable objection to their opera- 
tions among our churches. The revivals which were enjoyed under 
his labors were remarkable for the sobriety and soleminity which pre- 
vailed ; for the demonstration of the Spirit's power with which they 
were attended, and for the genuineness of the conversions which oc- 
curred. We think the reading of this book would be of great advan- 
tage to our pastors and church members, in this time of general de- 
clension. It is suggestive and encouraging. We are happy to learn 
that the demand for it is very great. 372 pages, 12mo. 

From the Watchman of the South, October 12, 1844. 
This is one of the most popular works ever issued from the Ameri- 
can press. Three thousand copies of it were sold by the publishers in 
three months. It will doubtless find a ready sale in the South, where 
Dr. Nettleton had many friends and admirers. Dr. Nettleton excelled 
in almost every thing, that could make him attractive to the pious. 
His Memoir is all, that a book of the same size could well be. 

From the Religious Herald, Virginia. 

Memoir of the Life and Character of Rev. Asahel Nettleton, D. D. 
By Bennet Tyler, D. D. 

We are indebted to the politeness of the publishers, Messrs. Robins 
and Smith, of Hartford, Conn, for this publication. Dr. Nettleton was 
an eminent Congregationalist minister. He labored extensively as an 
evangelist, and more successfully than perhaps any other minister of 
the present age. Extensive revivals took place under his ministry, in 
which thousands were converted and added to the church. Of his 
spiritual children, many are ministers of the Gospel. He owed his suc- 
cess not to any novel measures, but to his ardent zeal, and his faithful and 
practical preaching, and his happy method of presenting divine truth, so 
as to arrest the attention, and gain access to the hearts and consciences 
of his hearers. He did not aim merely to excite the feelings, but by 
appealing to the judgment and understanding of his hearers, sought to 



13 

win them to the love and obedience of the truth. The Memoir of 
such a man could not fail to be interesting ; and from his knowledge 
and intimacy with Dr. Nettleton, his biographer was well qualified for 
his task, and has produced an interesting w^ork, which may be read 
with profit by every friend of vital godliness. 



Memoir of Rev. William Carey, D. D. 

By Rev. Eustace Carey ; accompanied by an Introductory Essay, by 
Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin, D. D., late President of Waterville College, 
Maine ; with a Portrait, from steel. 12mo. full cloth. 

This is the only stereotyped edition of this valuable work, and should 
be in every family. 



Memoir of Rev. Gustavus F. Davis, D. D. 

Late Pastor of the first Baptist Church in Hartford, Conn., with six 
select Sermons on the distinguishing sentiments of the Baptist denom- 
ination. 12mo. full cloth. These Sermons are valuable to those who 
are desirous of becoming acquainted with the sentiments of the Bap- 
tists. 



Memoir of Rev. James H. Linsley, A. M. 

18mo. full cloth. A new and very valuable work. 

Synopsis of Christian Missions, 

Being a succinct account of the origin, progress and present state of 
the Protestant Foreign Missions of modern times — an important auxil- 
iary to those who are called upon to preach or speak upon the subject 
of missions, as they w^ill find the statistics prepared to their hand, and 
also a valuable source of information to Christians of the different 
evansrelical denominations. 



From the Watchman of the South. 
The Synopsis of Missions, being a succinct account of the origin, 
progress and present state of the Protestant Foreign Missions of 
modern times — an important auxiliary to those who are called upon 
to preach or speak upon the subject of Missions, as they will find 
the statistics prepared to their hand, and also a valuable source of in- 
formation to Christians of the difi'erent evangelical denominations. 



From the Religioas Herald, Virginia. 

Brief History of Evangelical Missions, with the date of commence- 
ment, and progress and present state. By Andrew M. Smith. 

This is a duodecimo volume of 194 pages, for which we are indebted 
to the politeness of the publishers, Messrs. Robins and Smith, of Hart- 
ford, Conn. 



14 

The editor in his preface observes : " It has been suggested that a 
brief survey of the various Protestant missions, embodying their essen- 
tial features w^ithin a small compass, might be serviceable both to those 
of limited means, those who have but little time for reading, and 
those who wish frequently to refer to the statistics of the different 
missions, without the time and labor of gleaning them from the more 
voluminous histories." 

Such a compilation was needed. The elaborate work of Smith and 
Choules, is too voluminous and expensive for general use. Frequent 
inquiries have been made for such a work ; giving a brief, but correct 
sketch of the missionaries of the various religious denominations 
throughout the world. In this work the history of the different mis- 
sionaries is brought down to the close of the year 1S43. Within a 
comparatively brief space, the reader can see what efforts have been 
made, and are now making to give the gospel to the heathen world. 
As far as we have had the opportunity to test the work, it appears to 
be executed with faithfulness and impartiality ; and we deem it a very 
useful compilation. 

From the Christian Observer. 
This volume presents before the reader a brief and general survey 
of the principal evangelical missions of the last century, with the date 
of their commencement, their progress, results, and present condition 
and prospects. It will be highly acceptable to those who have not the 
means to purchase, or leisure to read more voluminous works — and it 
is also a convenient book of reference for statistical and general in- 
formation on the subject. Its circulation, we think, cannot fail to 
awaken and promote an effective interest in the cause of missions. 

From the Christian Reflector. 

Brief History or Evangelical Missions, with date of com- 
mencement, progress, and present state. By Andrew M. Smith. 
Hartford: Robins and Smith. 1844. 

We have here, in a succinct and comprehensive form, and in a duo- 
decimo of less than 200 pages, an account of every Protestant mission, 
embracing not merely the statistics, but the most prominent and inter- 
esting facts. In this way, every private Christian, who reads any of 
our missionary monthlies, may have at his hand a book of refcence, 
which will acquaint him with the principal circumstances of every 
field now occupied, and assist him greatly in understanding what he 
reads. It is, moreover, an interesting work for separate perusal. We 
rejoice in this new instrumentality for the diffusion of missionary in- 
telligence among the people. Pastors will easily find, in this book, 
the general facts to which they may wish to refer in preparing a ser- 
mon or address on missions. We hope the book will have an extensive 
sale. 

From the Baptist Advocate. 

Brief History of Evangelical Missions, with the date of com- 
mencement and the progress and present state. By Andrew M. Smith. 
Hartford: Published by Robins and Smith. 1844.* 

A book of about 200 pages, arranged in short chapters or sections 
with an index referring to each by the name of the mission, or the 
society described. Nothing could be better devised for easy reference. 
At the close of the whole, is a general summary, presenting at one 
view the names of the various societies, and the most important par- 
ticulars of their operations. 



15 

We consider the book one of the most serviceable lately published, 
and cordially recommend it to Sunday schools, pastors, and families. 

From the Boston Reco7-der. 

Brief History of Evaivglical Missioivs, with the date of com- 
mencement and progress and present state. By Andrew M. Smith. 
Hartford: Robins and Sm.ith. For sale in Boston, by Crocker &, 
Brewster, Gould, Kendalls Lincoln, C. C. Dean, andH. S. Washburn. 

This book, in the space of 193 pages, presents a valuable synopsis of 
missions, and will be found of very great use to the minister, the 
Sunday school teacher, and others, as a book of reference. It contains 
much valuable information, not to be found entire in any other publi- 
cation. 

From the J\'eiv York Tribune. 
History of Missio^fs. — We have received from the publishers a 
" Brief History of Evangelical Missions, with the date of commence- 
ment and progress and present state. By Andrew M. Sm.ith." It is a 
full and copious source of information on the subject of Missions, and 
is calculated to be of the greatest service to ministers and others in- 
terested. It is handsomely printed, and will no doubt com.mand a 
large sale. 

Select Hymns. 

Edited by Rev. G. F. Davis, D. D. and Rev. James H. Linsley, A. M. 
Stereotyped edition. 32mo. sheep. 

This work stands unrivaled in regard to adaptation to the wants of 
the Christian public, and in regard to arrangement of the parts, which 
are in the following order, and adapted to social meetings, Sabbath 
schools and families. 

1. The Perfections of God. 13. Worship. 

2. Universal Peace. 14. Family Worship. 

3. The Scriptures. 15. Revival Hymns. 

4. Christ. 16. Missionarv Concert. 

5. The Holy Spirit. 17. Sabbath Schools. 

6. Sinners Warned. IS. New and Old Year. 

7. Sinners Awakened. 19. Tract Meetings. 

8. Sinners Invited. 20. Temperance Meetings. 

9. Sinners Converted. 21. Occasional Meetings. 

10. Profession and Baptism. 22. Death and Judgm^ent. 

11. Doctrine. 23. Doxologies. 

12. Christian Character and Graces. 

In addition to this syllabus of arrangement, and a table of first lines, 
there is a copious index of Scriptures, on which the Hymns are 
founded. 

This work of 416 pages, with 551 Hymns, is bound in good substan- 
tial sheep binding, and sold at the very low price of thirty-four cents, 
with a reasonable discount to those who buy in quantities. Numerous 
testimonials might be inserted, setting forth the value of the work, but 
the friends of devotion should examine for themselves. The design 
of those excellent men who edited this work, was not to make an 
ephemeral affair, but a permanent work for the Church. Some thou- 
sands have been sold, but still if che work was more generally used by 
our churches, it is thought the cause of piety would thereby be pro- 
moted. 



16 

Vision of Death and other Poems, 

By Rev. Charles W. Everest. 32mo. cloth. Beautifully embellished. 

ISTouth's Own Book: 

Character Essential to Success in Life. By Rev. Isaac 
Taylor, Ongar, England, author of Advice to the Teens ; Natural His- 
tory of Enthusiasm, &c. 

Domestic Education. 

Hints on the Education of Children while under the care of Parents 
and Guardians. By John Hall, Principal of Ellington High School, 
Conn. Second edition. 

Charlotte Hamilton. 

By Rev. A. Edson. An excellent work for Sunday School Libraries, 
full cloth. 18mo. 

l^y Barly Days. 

By Ferguson, the Astronomer. For Sabbath Schools. 18mo. cloth. 

Causes of Kelig^ious Declension, 

Among different Denominations of Christians. By Jeremiah Chap- 
lin, D. D. ISmo. cloth. 

Mansfield Domestic Silk Gi'oiver's Manual. 

Mechanics' Pocket Almanac and Calculator. 

Merchant's do. do. do. 

Ladies' do. do. do. 

The above valuable little works contain accurate interest and other 
tables, in addition to the Almanac. 

Common Prayer. 

32mo. Light sheep; rolled edges ; spring backs. 

do. Red, stamped sides. 

do. Roan, gilt backs. 

do. Morocco, Tucks, gilt edges. 

do. Turkey morocco, gilt extra. 
A plain and beautiful edition. 

School Rewards, 

From Wood Cuts — twenty-five on a sheet. 
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do. From Copper — six on a sheet. 

Robins & Smith keep constantly for sale, an extensive assortment 
of School, Theological and Miscellaneous Books, which they will sell, 
wholesale and retail, on the most accommodating terms. 




JBoH) 



MEMOIR 



LIFE AND CHARACTER 



REV. ASAHEL NETTLETON, D. D 



BY BENNE'r TYLER, D. D., 

I'rsiidcut auti Hrofessor of Clirislian Tlneology in Ihe Tlieolosical Instiiuie nlComieelicut. 
SECOND EDITION 



.^HARTFORD. 
/ 

PUBLISHED BY ROBINS AND SMITH. 
1845. 






Entered according to Act of Congi-ess, in the year 1844, by 

ROBINS AND SMITH, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut. 



STEREOTYPED BY 

RICHARD H. HOBBS, 

Hartfonl, Conn. 



PRINTED BY 
CASE, TIFFANY AND BURNHAM, 
Hartford, Conn, 



PREFACE. 



It has been well said, that " mere human greatness is an unenvi- 
able distinction. But the man, with whose greatness is combined 
moral excellence to direct and adorn it, is allied to Jesus Christ. 
God has from time to time, given to his church, men, not only of 
extraordinary intellectual powers, but with minds so pre-eminently 
sanctified, as to render them suitable agents for the accomplishment 
of his purposes on earth." That some account of the lives of such 
men should be preserved, and handed down to posterity, few will 
deny. This should be done, not for the purpose of glorifying men, 
who, however useful they may have been, are only instruments by 
which God accomplishes his purposes ; but to magnify the grace of 
God, and to promote the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. The 
influence of example in forming the human character, is confessedly 
great. Hence the utility of contemplating the examples of the wise 
and good. " If" as one observes, " religion appears lovely when 
portrayed merely in the simplicity and amiableness of her principles, 
how much more lovely when exhibited m the purity and benevolence 
of her conduct. When we see something more than right views and 
dispositions ; when we behold not the portrait, but the living features 
of her excellence, her image sinks deep into the soul." 

Much of the instruction of the sacred scriptures, is communicated 
under the form of example. Besides the perfect pattern set by 
Christ for our imitation, we are pointed to the example of the an- 
cient saints, " who through faith and patience inherited the prom- 
ises." We are reminded of the trials through which they were called 
to pass— of the temptations by which they were assailed — of the 
persecutions which they endured. We see them making their way 



IV r II E F A C E . 

to heaven "through much tribulation," and at length coming off 
" conquerors and more than conquerors through him that had loved 
them." That the contemplation of these examples is suited to stim- 
ulate and encourage believers in the christian race, there can be no 
doubt. Why, then, should not the biography of good men of a later 
period have a similar effect "? Who can doubt, that the perusal of 
the memoirs of Doddridge, of Edwards, of Brainerd, of Martyn, of 
Hallock, of Payson, and of others, has been the means of quicken- 
ing, and encouraging thousands of the people of God, and of pro- 
moting the work of sanctification in their hearts'? 

Among those who were at all acquainted with the subject of this 
memoir, or who have heard of the extensive good of which he was 
made the instrument, there will be but one opinion as to the impoit- 
ance of preserving some memorial of his life and character. He 
was no ordinary man : nor was he raised up for an ordinary purpose. 
Very few men have ever lived, who have been the honored instru- 
ments of turning so many souls " from darkness to light and from 
the power of satan unto God." Thousands have acknowledged him 
as their spiritual father, who it is believed, will be his joy and crown 
in the day of the Lord. Of these, many were called before him to 
their heavenly rest, and have doubtless welcomed him to their bliss- 
ful society. A great number still remain, to pray and labor for Zion. 
Of liis spiritual children, many are ministers of the gospel ; each 
one of whom is ready to exclaim in the language of Elisha, when 
witnessing the ascension of Elijah, " My father, my father, the 
chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." And many ministers 
who were not his spiritual children, received an impulse from his 
preaching and example, either before or after they entered the minis- 
try, which had a most salutary influence upon their character. The 
following statement of one who occupies a post of great responsibil- 
ity in the church, I have no doubt, expresses the views and feelings 
of many others. "In my preparation for college, and in my first 
year in college, I had the happiness to hear him preach in two very 
powerful revivals ; and I shall ever regard the influence which his 
preaching and his personal intercourse with me, exerted upon my 
character and views of ministerial duty, as of inestimable value." 

The days in which he had health and strength to engage in ardu- 
ous labor, were emphatically days of the right hand of the Most 
High. They will long be remembered on earth, and never be for- 
gotten in heaven. 



PREFACE. V 

A letter written by the Rev. Dr. Beecher in 1827, contains the 
following testimony. 

" Mr. Nettleton has served God and his generation with more self- 
denial, and constancy, and wisdom, and success, than any man living. 
I witnessed his commencement, and knew his progress, and the rel- 
ative state of things in Connecticut, especially ; and what (but for his 
influence in promoting revivals, and exciting and teaching by example 
others to promote them,) might have been the condition of the 
churches in those days of revolution through which they have pass- 
ed. Considering the extent of his influence, I regard him as beyond 
comparison, the greatest benefactor which God has given to this 
nation ; and through his influence in promoting pure and powerful 
revivals of religion, as destined to be one of the greatest benefactors 
of the world, and among the most efficient instruments of introduc- 
ing the glory of the latter day.*' This was the testimony of one who 
had known the history of his labors for fifteen years, and who had 
witnessed their great and salutary influence. 

" His holy zeal," says another minister, in a letter written soon 
after his death, " his tenderness and love, his prudence and judgment, 
and his admirable skill in presenting divine truth, and dealing with 
souls, made him at once, one of the most inspiring, and one of the 
safest examples to be presented before christians, and especially be- 
fore ministers." 

Another minister, in a letter to the writer, says, " I am gratified to 
learn, that you intend to publish as soon as practicable a biographi- 
cal sketch of our much esteemed and beloved friend, the late Dr. 
Nettleton. This I regard as due to the memory of the deceased, to 
his numerous friends in difl^erent parts of the land, and to the cause 
of truth and vital godliness, which he advocated so ably and success- 
fully, through the different periods of his ministry. It would be mat- 
ter of unfeigned regret, if the wisdom, zeal, stability, spirit of kind- 
ness, and unconquerable perseverance in the vrork of the Lord which 
were such prominent characteristics of that man, should not be per- 
mitted to benefit others after he is silent in the grave. 

" That he uniforndy regarded himself as an accountable steward 
of God, and studied to show himself approved — that he was a de- 
voted servant of the church, in laboring for its enlargement and 
growth in grace — that he wielded the sword of the spirit most dex- 
terously for the conversion of men to God — that he was a vigilant 
and judicious guide and counsellor— that he strove to build up those 
who were spiritually begotten by him in the most holy faith — and 
1* 



VI PREFACE. 

that he was a timely and efficient helper of his ministerial brethren, 
are facts too obvious to need proof, to those who have been convers- 
ant with him for the last twenty-five years." 

Dr. Nettleton kept no journal of his religious exercises ; nor until 
1818 did he keep any journal of his labors. In the spring of that 
year, while laboring in Rocky Hill, he began to keep a memoran- 
dum, in which he noted down the times and places of preaching, and 
the texts from which he preached, together with occasional brief 
remarks. Many of the facts recorded in this memoir, were obtained 
from him in personal interviews, and committed to writing at the 
time. The reader may be assured, that nothing is stated as fact, of 
which the writer has not either personal knowledge, or the most sat- 
isfactory evidence. 

Should the imperfect sketch which is here given of the life and 
character of this distinguished servant of God, be the means of in- 
citing others to imitate his example, so far as he followed Christ, the 
labor of preparing it will be abundantly compensated. 

East Windsor, Aug, 1st, 1844. 



PREFACE 

TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



In presenting a new edition of this work to the public, the author 
feels constrained to say, that he is no less surprised than gratified, 
by the unexpected favor with which the first edition was received = 
He hopes the present edition will be thought not less worthy of public 
favor. It has been carefully revised and corrected. Some altera- 
tions have been made : and although the number of pages has not 
been increased, considerable additional matter has been inserted. 
The page has been somewhat enlarged, and the appearance of the 
book, it is believed, not a little improved. 

The author would express his obligations to those friends who have 
favored him with their remarks on the first edition, (at whose sug- 
gestions some alterations have been made,) and especially to those 
who have furnished additional facts, with which to enrich the present 
edition. 

That all who shall read these pages may possess, in a high degree, 
that religion which rendered the subject of this memoir so eminently 
useful while he lived, and which sustained him in the hour of death, 
is the prayer of the 

Biographer. 

East Windsor, Jan. 1st, 1845. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGE. 

His birth. Childhood and youth. Conversion 11 



CHAPTER II. 

His desire to preach the Gospel, and to become a missionary to the heathen. 
Difficulties in the way of obtaining an education, The manner in which 
he overcame them. College life. Acquaintance with Samuel J. Mills. 
Appointment as Butler in College. Theological education at Milford 
under the instruction of the Rev. Mr. Pinneo. License to preach the 
Gospel. The reason why he did not become a Missionar3\ . . 25 

C H APTER III . 

His labors in the eastern part of Connecticut, where he obtains a knowledge 
of the measures which were adopted by Davenport and others, in the great 
revival of 1740, and of their results in producing a moral desolation. His 
acquaintance with certain evangelists. His opinion of the expediency 
of employing evangelists as assistants of settled pastors. ... 45 

CHAPTER IV. 

His labors in Derby, South Britain, South Salem, Danbury, Monroe, North 
Lyme,Hadlyme, Bloomfield, Milton, South Farms, Chester, East Granby, 
Bolton, Manchester, and West Granby 55 

CHAPTER V. 

His labors in New Haven, Salisbury, Bridgewater, Torrington, Waterbury, 
Upper Middle town, Rocky Hill, Ashford, Eastford, Bolton. . . 71 



CHAPTER VI. 
His labors in Saratoga county, and Nassau. 94 



X CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VII. 

PAGE. 

His labors in New Haven, North Killingworth, North Madison, Wethers- 
field, Newington, and Farmington . . 112 

CHAPTER VIII. 

His labors in Pittsfield, Lenox, Lee, Litchfield, New Haven, Somers, 
Tolland, and South Wilbraham. 131 

CHAPTER IX. 

Sickness at Bolton. Compilation of Hymn Book. Labors in Bethlem, 
Brooklyn, Taunton, Jamaica, Albany, Durham, Lexington, Virginia, 
Monson, North Carolina, Newark, New York. Voyage to England. 
Labors in Enfield. Formation of the Pastoral Union. Establishment of 
the Theological Institute of Connecticut. Appointment as Professor. 
The degree of D. D. conferred upon him 148 

C H APT ER X . 

His method of laboring in revivals of religion 198 

CHAPTER XI. 
Character of the Revivals under his preaching. 226 

CHAPTERXIl. 
His opposition to New Measures. 236 

CHAPTERXIII. 
His Doctrinal Views, and interest in the recent Theological Controversy. 273 

CHAPTER XIV. 
His last Sickness and Death. , . 302 

CHAPTER XV. 
His General Character. , 313 



CHAPTER I 



His birth.— Childhood and Youth.— Conversion. 

It is a striking fact, that a large proportion of those whom 
God has raised up to be distinguished instruments of promo- 
ting the interests of his church, have sprung from a humble 
origin. " The Reformer Z^vingle, emerged from a shepherd's 
hut among the Alps ; Melancthon, the great theologian of the 
Reformation, from an armorer's Vv^ork shop ; and Luther from 
the cottage of a poor miner," It has been so in every age. 
Moses, Samuel, David, and the Apostles of our Lord, were 
from the humble walks of life. And why should it not be so, 
since our Lord himself, when he assumed our nature, was 
born in a low condition ? God has in this way, poured con- 
tempt upon those earthly distinctions in which mankind are 
prone to glory. 

AsAHEL Nettleton was born in North Killingworth, Con- 
necticut, April 21, 1783, the same day on which the birth of 
Samuel J. Mills occurred. He was the eldest son, and second 
child, of a family of six children, consisting of three sons, and 
three daughters. His parents, though but little known to the 
world, were esteemed and respected by their neighbors. His 
father was a farmer, in moderate, but comfortable circumstan- 
ces ; and in this employment Asahel was mostly engaged, 
until he entered college, in 1805. 

His childhood and youth, so far as is known to the writer. 



12 MEMOIR OF 

were characterized by nothing very peculiar. His early ad- 
vantages of education were such only, as are furnished by the 
common district school. That he made a good use of these 
advantages, we may infer from the thirst for knowledge which 
he evinced at a later period, and from the fact, that while a 
young man, he was employed several winters in the capacity 
of a school-teacher. 

His parents, according to the custom which prevailed at 
that period in some parts of New England, were professors 
of religion, on what was called the half way covenant plan ; — 
that is, they were not admitted to full communion, but having 
publicly assented to the covenant of the church, they were 
permitted to offer their children in baptism.* Asahel was of 
course baptized in his infancy, and while a child, received 
some religious instruction from his parents. He was, in par- 
ticular, required to commit to memory the Assembly's Cate- 
chism, which, as he has often remarked, was of great use to 
him when his attention was awakened to the concerns of his 
soul. His morals were also strictly guarded by his parents, 
and they had the satisfaction to know, that during the period 
of youth, he was not addicted to any vicious habits, but sus- 
tained, in the eyes of the world, an unblemished moral 
character. 

While a child, he was occasionally the subject of religious 
impressions. At one time in particular, while alone in the 
field, and looking at the setting sun, he was powerfully im- 
pressed with the thought that he and all men must die. He 
was so affected by this thought, that he stood for some time 

* This custom, according to Dr. Bellamy, was first introduced by the recom- 
mendation of a synod which met in Boston, ] 062. Many ministers and churches 
zealously opposed it at the time, and although it gained extensive prevalence, 
it was never universally adopted. It began to be discontinued in the days of 
Edwards and Bellamy ; for the latter remarks, " Of late a considerable number 
of churches which had adopted the practice, have laid it aside." The revivals, 
at the beginning of the present century, put a period to it in most of the churches 
and at present, it is scarcely known in any part of New England. 



DR.NETTLETON. 13 

and wept aloud. But these feelings were transitory, and he 
seems to have had no permanent religious impressions, till 
the fall of 1800, when he was in the eighteenth year of his 
age. This w^as at the period so memorable in the history of 
our American Zion, as a time of refreshing from the presence 
of the Lord. For half a century the influences of the divine 
Spirit had been, in a great measure, withdrawn from the 
churches. Reidvals, '' like angel's visits, were few and far 
betvv^een." But during a period of four or five years, com- 
mencing with 1793, not less than one hundred and fifty 
churches in New England, were favored with the special 
effusions of the Holy Spirit ; and thousands of souls, in the 
judgment of charity, were translated from the kingdom of 
Satan into the kingdom of God's dear Son. 

In the blessings of this general out-pouring of the Spirit, 
North Killingworth shared. A narrative of the revival of 
religion in this town, was published in the fourth and fifth 
volumes of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine,* A few 
individuals whose conversion was considered particularly 
interesting, were requested by their pastor to give him, in 
writing, an account of their religious exercises, Mr. Nettle- 
ton was one of the number ; and his account, v/ith that of two 
or three others, is incorporated in the printed narrative, and 
is as follows : 

" Knowing by experience the deplorable state of a sinner, 
that he is by nature totally destitute of love and conformity to 
God, and that he cannot be saved but by a special act of sove- 
reign grace, induceth me to ask for further instruction upon 
this all-important subject, and to communicate, in a summary 
manner, the state of ray mind, and the feelings with which 
it has been exercised. 

" From my earliest age, I endeavored to lead a moral life, 
being often taught that God would punish sinners ; but I did 

* In this narrative, the place is called the Second Society in Killingworth. 
2 



14 MEMOIR OF 

not believe that I should suffer for the few offences of which 
1 had been guilty. Having avoided many sins which I saw- 
in others, I imagined all was well with me, till I was about 
eighteen years old, vv^hen I heard a sermon preached upon the 
necessity of regeneration, which put m.e upon thinking of the 
need of a change of heart in myself. I did not, however, well 
receive the discourse at the time, fori was sensible I knew 
nothing about such a change, neither did I wish to know, for 
I believed myself as good as others without it, and to be equal 
with them, I thought would be sufficient. However, the 
thought troubled me considerably from day to day, and caused 
me to think of praying, which I had never done, except re- 
peating some form as a little child, and doing it to remove the 
stings of a guilty conscience, when I considered myself in 
imminent dan'ger. Sometime after this, I heard another ser- 
mon that convinced me I had quenched the spirit, which oc- 
casioned me the most alarming fears that I should forever be 
left to eat the fruit of my ov/n ways. Supposing I was alone 
in the thoughts of eternity, I separated myself from all com- 
pany, and determined to seek an interest in Christ. I con- 
cluded something must be done to appease God's anger. I 
read and prayed, and strove in every possible way to prepare 
myself to go to God, that I might be saved from his wrath. 
The more I strove in this selfish way, the more anxious I was, 
and no hope was given. Soon I began to murmur and repine, 
and accused God of the greatest injustice in requiring me to 
return to him ; and v/hile I was striving with all my might, 
as I supposed, he appeared not to regard me. I considered 
God obligated to love me, because I had done so much for 
hinij and finding no relief, I wished that he might not be, and 
began really to doubt the truths of his holy word, and to dis- 
believe his existence ; for if there was a God, I perfectly 
hated him. I searched the scriptures daily, hoping to find 
inconsistencies in them, to condemn the Bible because it was 
against me ; and while I was diligently pursuing my purpose, 



DR. NETTLETON. 15 

every thing I read, and every sermon I heard, condemned 
me. Christian conversation gave me the most painful sensa- 
tions. I tried to repent, but I could not feel the least sorrow 
for my innumerable sins. By endeavoring to repent, I saw 
my heart still remained impenitent. Although I knew I hated 
every thing serious, yet I determined to habituate myself to 
the duties which God required, and see if I could not by that 
means be made to love him, and I continued in this state some 
months. The fear of having committed the unpardonable sin, 
now began to rise in my mind, and I could fmd no rest day 
nor night. When my weary limbs demanded sleep, the fear 
of awaking in a miserable eternity prevented the closing of 
my eyes, and nothing gave me ease. No voice of mirth, or 
sound whatever was heard, but what reminded me of the 
awful day when God shall bring every work into judgment. 
All self-righteousness failed me ; and having no confidence 
in God, I was left in deep despondency. After a while, a 
surprising tremor seized all my limbs, and death appeared to 
have taken hold upon me. Eternity, the word eternity, sound- 
ed louder than any voice I ever heard, and every moment of 
time seemed more valuable than all the wealth of the world. 
Not long after this, an unusual calmness pervaded my soul, 
which I thought little of at first, except that I was freed from 
my awful convictions, and this sometimes grieved me, fearing 
I had lost all conviction. Soon after, hearing the feelings of 
a christian described, I took courage, and thought I knew by 
experience what they were. The character of God, and the 
doctrines of the Bible which I could not meditate upon before 
without hatred, especially those of election and free grace, 
now appear delightful, and the only means by which, through 
grace, dead sinners can be made the living sons of God. My 
heart feels its sinfulness. To confess my sins to God, gives 
me that peace which before I knew nothing of. To sorrow 
for it, affords that joy which my tongue cannot express. Were 
I sensible that at death, my hope would perish, yet it seem- 



16 MEMOIR OF 

etli to me now, that I could not willingly quit the service of 
God, nor the company of christians ; but my unfaithfulness 
often makes me fear my sincerity ; and should I at last be 
raised to glory, all the praise will be to God for the exhibition 
of his sovereign grace." 

This account Vv^as written not far from the time when he 
made a profession of religion ; and interesting as, it is, it con- 
tains but an imperfect sketch of the exercises of his mind, 
during the ten months in which the Spirit of God was striving 
with him. I add a few facts which are copied from a mem- 
orandum made immediately after hearing from his own lips, a 
more minute and particular account of his conversion. 

In giving this account, he remarked that the foregoing 
printed statement, is not exactly as he wrote it. Some verbal 
alterations were made in it, which, although they were not 
intended to affect the sense, do affect it in some degree ; par- 
ticularly in the sentence in which these words occur : " When 
I heard a sermon preached upon the necessity of regeneration, 
which put me upon thinking of the need of a change of heart 
in myself," This, as it now reads, seems to convey the idea, 
that his attention was first awakened to the concerns of his 
soul, by a particular sermon. But this was not true, nor was 
such an idea expressed in the original manuscript. His first 
permanent religious impressions occurred in the following 
manner : 

On the night of the annual Thanksgiving, in the fall of 1800, 
he attended a ball. The next morning, while alone, and 
thinking with pleasure on the scenes of the preceding night, 
and of the manner in which he had proposed to spend the day, 
in company with some of his young companions, the thought 
suddenly rushed upon his mind, we must all die, and go to the 
judgment, and with what feelings shall we then reflect upon 
these scenes ! This thought was, for the moment, overwhel- 
ming ; and it left an impression on his mind, which he. could 
not efface. His pleasing reflections on the past, and antici- 



U R . N E T T L E T O N . IT 

pations of the future, vanished at once, and gave place to 
feelings of a veiy diflerent kind. These feelings he conceal- 
ed ; but he could not entirely banish them from his mind. 
The world had lost its charms. All those amusements in 
which he had taken delight, were overcast with gloom. His 
thoughts dwelt much on the scenes of death, judgment and 
eternity. He knew that he had an immortal soul that must be 
happy or miserable in the future world ; and although he had 
consoled himself with the thought that he was as good as others 
around him, and that his condition was, of course, as safe as 
theirs ; yet he now felt conscious that he was unprepared to 
meet his God. He at the same time perceived that he was 
liable every moment to be cut down by the stroke of death, 
and summoned to his last account. He had no peace of mind 
by day or by night. Although, at this time, he had no very 
just conceptions of the divine law, or of the depravity of his 
heart ; yet lie was sensible that he was a sinner, and that his 
sins must be pardoned, or he could not be saved. The duty 
of prayer was now forcibly impressed upon his mind, a duty 
which he had almost entirely neglected ; and it was not with- 
out a great struggle in his feelings, that he was brought to 
bend the knee to Jehovah. At the same time, he gave him- 
self much to the reading of the Scriptures and other religious 
books, and separated himself as much as possible from thought- 
less companions. So far as he knew, and so far as is now 
known, there was, at that time, no other person in the town 
under serious impressions.* The young people with whom 
he had been most intimate, were exceedingly thoughtless, and 
given to vain and sinful amusements. They were, at this 
time, making arrangements for the establishment of a dancing 
school, and they expected his aid and co-operation in the 
measure. But to their astonishment, he utterly refused to 

* This was in the Autumn of 1800. The revival did not become visible till 
the following spring. 

2* 



18 MEMOIPc OF 

have anything to do with it. He had made up his mi rid to 
quit forever all such amusements, and to seek the salvatio;i of 
his soul. But as he did not reveal his feelings to any of his 
associates, they knew not how to account for this sudden 
change in his appearance and conduct. Some, perhaps sus- 
pected the true cause ; while others ^supposed that for some 
reason, unknown to them, his affections had become alienated 
from his former friends. Thus, for months, he mourned in 
secret, and did not conmimiicate his feelings to a single indi- 
vidual. During this period, he had a strong desire that some 
of his young companions would set out with him in pursuit of 
religion : and although his proud heart would not permit him 
to make known to them the state of his mind, yet he occasion- 
ally ventured to expostulate with them on the folly and sinful- 
ness of their conduct ; and to some few individuals, he 
addressed short letters on the same subject. These warnings 
were treated by some, with ridicule and contempt. On the 
minds of others, they made an impression, which, as he after- 
w^ards learned, was never effaced. This was particularly the 
case with Philander Parraele, who was aftervvards his class- 
mate in college, and intimate friend through life.* 

When Mr. Nettleton first became anxious respecting the 
salvation of his soul, he had not, as has been remarked, any 
very just conceptions of the depravity of his heart. He was 
sensible that he w^as not in a safe condition. He knew that 
he needed something which he did not possess, to prepare 
him for heaven. He had a general vague idea that he was a 
sinner, but he saw not the fountain of iniquity wuthin him. 
As is common with persons when awakened to a sense of 
their danger, he went about to establish his own righteousness. 
He vainly presumed, that by diligent and persevering efforts, 
he should recommend himself to the favor of God. He was 

* Mr. Parmele became pastor of the church iu Bolton, Conn. At his house 
Mr. Nettleton was sick with the typhus fever in 1822. Mr. Parmele took the 
fever of him and died. 



DR. NETTLE TON. 19 

accordingly very abundant in his religious services. He not 
only abandoned those amusements in which he had delighted, 
and forsook in a great measure the society of those who took 
no interest in the subject of religion ; but he spent much 
time in retirement, earnestly crying to God for mercy. He 
would often repair to the fields and forests for this purpose, 
and he sometimes spent a large part of the night in prayer. 
Tn this way, he expected to obtain the forgiveness of his sins, 
and the peace and consolation which God has promised to his 
people. But after laboring for some time in this manner, he 
became alarmed at his want of success. God seemed to pay 
no regard to his prayers : and hov>' to account for this fact he 
knew not. At this crisis, he was assailed by infidel doubts. 
The question arose in his mind, whether he had not proved 
the Bible to be false. It is written. Ask and ye shall receive, 
Seek and ye shall find. He said to himself, I have asked, but 
I have not received — I have sought but I have not found. 
How then can these promises be true ? iVnd how can the 
book which contains them, be the v\^ord of God ? He found 
himself disposed to cherish these doubts, and to seek for fur- 
ther proof that the Bible is not true. He searched the Scrip- 
tures on purpose to find contradictions in them, and he even 
went so far as to begin to doubt the existence of a God. 
Like the fool, he said in his heart there is no God ; that is, 
he wished there were none ; for he was sensible that if there 
was a God, he was not reconciled to his character : and he 
wished the Bible to be false, because he saw that it condemned 
him. But his efforts to satisfy himself that religion is not 
a reality, did not succeed. The thought would sometimes 
arise, what if the Bible should prove to be true ? Then I am 
lost forever. This would fill him with inconceivable horror. 
These struggles in his mind, led him to a more just knowl- 
edge of his character and condition. He began to see the 
plague of his own heart. His doubts respecting the truth of 
the promises which God has made to those who ask, and 



20 M E M O I R O F 

seekj were dispelled by the painful conviction that he never 
had asked and sought as God requires. The commandment 
came, sin revived, and he died. He saw that God looks on 
the heart, and that he requires holy and spiritual service of 
his creatures ; that he seeketh such to worship him, as worship 
him in spirit and in truth. He saw at the same time, that in 
all his religious services, he had been prompted by selfish 
motives. He saw that in all which he had done, he had had 
no love to God, and no regard to his glory ; but that he had 
been influenced solely by a desire to promote his own person- 
al interest and happiness. He saw that in all the distress 
which he had experienced on account of his sin, there was 
no godly sorrow — no true contrition. He had not hated sin 
because it was committed against God, but had merely dread- 
ed its consequences. He had taken great pains to cleanse 
the outside of the cup and the platter, but he now perceived 
that the inside was full of all uncleanness. And he was 
thoroughly convinced, that 

" No outward forms could make him clean. 
The leprosy lay deep within." 

He had prayed, and wept and promised, but he now saw, 
that 

" His prayers and tears and vows were vile. 
His duties black with guilt." 

During this period he read President Edwards' narrative 
of the revival of religion in Northampton, and the memoir of* 
Brainerd. These served very much to deepen the conviction 
of his utterly lost condition. The preaching which he heard 
from time to time, also greatly distressed him. As he says in 
his narrative, every sermon condemned him. Nothing gave 
him any relief. He seemed to be sinking daily deeper and 
deeper in guilt and wretchedness. One day, while alone in 
the field, engaged in prayer, his heart rose against God, be- 
cause he did not hear and answer his prayers. Then the 



DR.NETTLETON. 21 

words of the Apostle, the carnal mind is enmity against God, 
came to his mind with such overwhehiiiug power, as to de- 
prive him of strength, and he fell prostrate on the earth. The 
doctrines of the Gospel, particularly the doctrines of divine 
sovereignty and election, were sources of great distress to 
him. There was much talk respecting these doctrines, at 
that time, in North Kiilingworth. Some disbelieved and 
openly opposed them. He searched the Scriptures with great 
diligence to ascertain whether they are there taught ; and 
although his heart was unreconciled to them, he dared not 
deny them, for he was convinced that they were taught in the 
Bible. He would sometimes say to himself, if I am not 
electe^', I shall not be saved, even if I do repent — then the 
thought would arise, if I am not elected, I never shall repent. 
This would cut him to the heart, and dash to the gTound all 
his self-righteous hopes. For a long time he endured these 
conflicts in his mind. Meanwhile he became fully convinced, 
that the commands of God are perfectly jiist, that it was his 
immediate duty to repent, and that he had no excuse for con- 
tinuing another moment a rebel against God. At the same 
time he saw that such was the wickedness of his heart, that 
he never should repent, unless God should subdue his heart 
by an act of sovereign grace. With these views of his con- 
dition, his distress was sometimes almost insupportable. At 
one time he really supposed himself to be dying, and sinking 
into hell. This was the time of which he speaks in his nar- 
rative, when he says, " an unusual tremor seized all my limbs, 
and death appeared to have taken hold upon me." For several 
hours, his horror of mind was inexpressible. Not long after 
this, there was a change in his feelings. He felt a calmness 
for which he knew not how to account. He thought, at first, 
that he had lost his convictions, and was going back to stu- 
pidity. This alarmed him, but still he could not recall his 
former feelings. A sweet peace pervaded his soul. The 
objects which had given him so much distress, he now con- 



22 MEMOIR OF 

templated with delight. He did not, however, for several 
days suppose that he had experienced a change of heart ; but 
finding at length that his views and feelings accorded with 
those expressed by others whom he regarded as the friends of 
Christ, he began to think it possible that he might have pass- 
ed from death unto life. The more he examined himself, 
the more evidence he found that a great change had been 
wrought in his views and feelings respecting divine things. 
Old things had passed away — all things had become new. 
The character of God now appeared lovely. The Saviour 
was exceedingly precious ; and the doctrines of grace, to- 
wards which he had felt such bitter opposition, he contem- 
plated with delight. He had now no doubt of their truth. 
He saw clearly that if there was any good thing in him to- 
wards the Lord God of Israel, it was not the result of any 
effort of his own, but of the sovereign and distinguished Mali 
of God. He was ready to say with the Apostle, hy the 
grace of God, I am what 1 am. He knew that if God had 
left him to himself, he should have persisted in the road to 
ruin. It was no longer a question with him, whether the 
natural heart is destitute of holiness, and opposed to God — 
or whether it is necessary that the sinner should be born 
again by the special operations of the Holy Spirit. What 
the Scriptures teach on these points, was confirmed by his 
experience. He had the witness in himself of the truth of 
these doctrines. And so firmly was he established in the be- 
lief of them, that his faith never wavered during his life. He 
now felt a peculiar love for the people of God, and a delight 
in the duties of religion, to which before, he was a total 
stranger. 

If the reader w^ould know the state of his mind at this 
period, let him read three or four of the Village Hymns, be- 
ginning with the 372, which were intended to describe the 
feelings of a young convert. He has been heard to say, that 



DR. NETTLETON. 23 

in arranging those hymns, he put those first which described 
his own feelings at the time of his conversion. 

But although he enjoyed great peace of mind, he never 
expressed a very high degree of confidence that he was a 
child of God. He had such a deep and abiding sense of the 
deceitfulness of the human heart, and of the danger of self- 
deception, that not only at this period, but ever afterwards, he 
Avas exceedingly cautious in expressing his belief that he was 
accepted of God. At one time, being asked whether he had 
any doubts respecting his interest in the promises, he replied, 
" I have no doubt that I have religious enjoyment ; but the 
question is, whether it is of the right kind." At another time 
he said, " the most that I have ventured to say respecting ray- 
self, is, that I think it possible I may get to heaven." It was 
always painful to him to hear persons express great confi- 
dence of their interest in the divine favor, unless they were 
persons of eminent piety. He feared they did not realize 
how deceitful the human heart is. 

It was about ten months, as has been already intimated, 
from the time when Mr. Nettleton's attention was first seri- 
ously turned to the subject of religion, before he obtained 
peace in believing. With him, what the old divines termed 
the law-work, was deep and thorough. This protracted sea- 
son of conviction gave him a knowledge of the human heart 
which few possess ; and w-hich was doubtless intended by 
God to prepare him for that pre-eminent success which at- 
tended his labors as a minister of Christ. As one observes, 
" God prepares for himself the souls which he destines to 
some important work. We must prepare the vessel before we 
launch it on the mighty deep. If education is necessary for 
every man, then is a particular education necessary for those 
who are to influence the generations in which they live." 

The following remark of President Edwards in relation to 
the conversion of David Brainerd, will apply equally to the 
conversion of Mr. Nettleton. " His convictions of sin pre- 



24 MEMOIROF 

ceding his first consolaitions in Christ, were exceedingly deep 
and thorough. His trouble and sorrow arising from a sense 
of guilt and misery were very great, and long continued, but 
yet sound and rational, consisting in no unsteady, violent, and 
unaccountable frights and perturbations of the mind ; bu 
arising from the most serious considerations, and a clear illu- 
mination of the conscience to discern and consider the true 
state of things. The light let into his mind at conversion, 
and the influences and exercises to which his mind was sub- 
ject at that time, appear very agreeable to reason, and to the 
gospel of Jesus Christ. The change was very great and re- 
markable, yet without any appearance of strong impressions 
on the imagination, or sudden flights of the affections, or 
vehement emotions of the animal nature. It was attended 
with just views of the supreme glory of the divine being, 
consisting in the infinite dignity and beauty of the perfection 
of his nature, and of the transcendent excellency of the way 
of salvation by Christ." 

The preceding is from a sermon at the funeral of Brainerd. 



CHAPTER II. 

His desire to preach the Gospel, and to become a missionary to the heathen.— 
Difficulties in the -way of obtaining an education.— The manner in which he 
overcame them.— College life.— Acquaintance with Samuel J. Mills.— Appointment 
as Butler in College.— Theological education at Milford, under the instruction of 
the Rev. IVIr. Pinneo.— License to preach the Gospel.— The reason why he did not 
become a Missionaiy. 

In the year 1801, the father of Mr. Nettleton died. As 
he was the oldest son, the care of the family, and the man- 
agement of the farm devolved upon him. It had been his ex- 
pectation to spend his days in agricnUural pursuits ; but God 
had designed him for a different course of life. After the 
change in his feelings, described in the preceding chapter, his 
mind dwelt much on the worth of the soul, and the deplorable 
condition of those who have no interest in Christ ; and he 
had the most intense desires to be instrumental in the salvation 
of his fellow men. While laboring in the field, he would often 
say to himself, " if I might be the means of saving one soul, 
I should prefer it to all the riches and honors of this world." 
He would frequently look forward to eternity, and put to him- 
self the question, " what shall I wish I had done, thousands 
and millions of years hence ?" About this time, he became 
exceedingly interested in the short accounts which were pub- 
lished in the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, of the ope- 
rations of the London Missionary Society, and of the Baptist 
Missionary Society in England. These awakened in his 
breast a strong desire to become a missionary to the heathen ; 

and he decided to devote his life to the missionary service, if 
3 



26 MEMOIR OF 

God, in his Providence, should prepare the way. This pur- 
pose was afterwards greatly strengthened by the perusal of 
Home's Letters on Missions. The feelings which Samuel 
J. Mills expressed to his father soon after his conversion, 
were precisely the feelings of young Nettleton at this period, 
viz : " That he could not conceive of any course of life in which 
to pass the rest of his days, that would prove so pleasant, as to 
go and communicate the gospel salvation to the poor heathen.'''' 

It has been already remarked, that Samuel J. Mills and 
Asahel Nettleton were born on the same day. It is a remark- 
able fact, that their neio and spiritual hirth occurred very nearly 
at the same time* — that the conversion of both was signally 
marked — and that from the commencement of their christian 
course, they seem to have been imbued with the same spirit, 
and to have devoted themselves to the same employment. 
And here I cannot refrain from quoting a few sentences from 
the memoir of Mills. '• Thus early did a sovereign God who 
has pity on the heathen, set apart Samuel J. Mills for a mis- 
sionary. Though a youth of but sixteen,! he discovered a zeal 
in the missionary cause, an eagerness in the pursuit of mis- 
sionary intelligence, and an enlargement of thought in his plans 
to become' acquainted with the unevangelized world, which left 
little doubt that he was chained to his purpose by a superior 
power. It \vas heart yearning over the miseries of perish- 
ing millions, that first led him to think of acquiring an educa- 
tion with a view to the gospel ministry. The spirit of God 
came over him like Elisha in the field. While toiling at the 
plough, was his heart touched with compassion for the heath- 
en world, and he bid adieu to his farm to obtain an education, 
on purpose to carry the gospel to millions who were perish- 

*Tbe conversion of Mills occurred in November, 1801. That of Nettleton, 
about two months earlier. 

t This is a mistake. It ought to be eighteen. It appears from a statement 
on a preceding page of the memoir, that his conversion took place in Novem- 
ber, 1801, \v\\en he was eighteen years old. 



DR. NETTLETON. 27 

ing for lack of knowledge. Thus in a retired field in Litch- 
field county, was the king of Zion beginning that grand course 
of operations, which have produced such a revolution in the 
American churches, and which bear so intimate a relation to 
the progressive glories of his kingdom !" All this, excepting 
the name of the county, was as true of Nettleton as of Mills, 
and very nearly at the same time. 

It is a striking fact, that while these two individuals seem 
to have been the first in this country (in these latter days,) to 
devote themselves to the missionary work, neither of them 
was permitted to enter upon it. It happened to them as to 
David, in relation to the building of the temple. They did 
well that it was in their hearts to go to the heathen ; but the 
honor of actually going, was reserved for others. The rea- 
sons w^hich prevented Mills from becoming a missionary to the 
heathen, are already before the public. Those which pre- 
vented Nettleton, will be given in the sequel. 

In acquiring a collegiate education, he had many difficulties 
and discouragements to encounter. His pecuniary means 
Avere entirely inadequate ; and in those days, there were no 
Education societies, and no funds for the support of indigent 
students. Such also, were the circumstances of the family, 
recently deprived of its head, as to render his presence and 
labor at home, apparently indispensable. So strong however, 
was his desire to become a minister of the gospel, and a mis- 
sionary to the heathen, that he resolved to make the attempt to 
obtain an education. He procured some books, and while 
laboring on the farm, dovoted his leisure moments to study. 
In the winter he taught school, and spent his evenings in 
study, occasionally reciting to his pastor. Thus, in the course 
of two or three years, with very little instruction, and while 
laboring most of the time on the farm, except when engaged 
in school-keeping, he mastered the preparatory studies, and 
entered the Freshman class in Yale College, about the middle of 
the first term, in the fall of 1805. 



28 MEMOIR OF 

When Mr. Nettleton entered college, he was the only pro- 
fessor of religion in his class. Some others, however, en- 
tered before the close of the year, one of whom was his 
friend and fellow townsman, Philander Parmele. Some part 
of the time while a member of college, he taught a school in 
New Haven, to procure the means of defraying his expenses. 
He felt a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of the children 
committed to his care, and he had the happiness to know, that 
many of them became the hopeful subjects of divine grace, 
under his preaching, in the revival of 1815. 

The following account of Mr. Nettleton's college life, is 
from the Rev„ Jonathan Lee. 

" I was classmate with Mr. Nettleton during the two last 
years of our college life, and roomed with him through the 
junior year. Having entered one year before him, and thus 
belonging to the next preceding class, till the expiration of my 
Sophomore and his Freshman year ; and then being kept out 
of college and broken off from my studies by a severe malady, 
for one whole year, I formed but little acquaintance with him, 
till I returned again to college, and joined his class at the 
beginning of their junior year, in October, 1807. My pre- 
vious observation of him in his class, had left the impression 
that he was a modest and inoffensive youth, of unpolished 
manners, but unexceptionable in moral deportment, and bear- 
ing the marks of a peculiar interest, solemnity and devoted- 
ness in the religious worship, and at the communion sea- 
sons in the chapel. Providence brought us in contact, now, 
in new and unanticipated circumstances. I was standing in 
melancholy mood, in the south door of the then middle or old 
college, disheartened at the loss of a year in standing, a 
stranger to the class, and with no room or room-mate engaged, 
reluctant to make application to any one, supposing their ar- 
rangements in this respect, had been already made. Nettle- 
ton passing by, seemed attracted by my sombre attitude, and 
down-cast aspect, and approaching, kindly inquired whether I 



DR. NETTLETON. 29 

had obtained a room-mate, and learning by my reply that I 
had not, offered himself to room with me. The circumstan- 
ces of this proffer, and the manner of its being made, gave a 
new and peculiar impression to my mind in regard to him, as 
it showed a readiness to relinquish his previous designs on the 
subject, to relieve my anxiety, and show me a kindness. It 
was an expression of unsought, but timely and generous 
friendship, (as various facts connected with his offer convinc- 
ed me,) which is not often met with, in the intercourse of 
3''outh at college. I thankfully accepted his overture, which 
removed a heavy burden from my spirit and carried convic- 
tion to my heart, that I had found a friend in whom it was 
safe to confide. From that day to this, greatly as I was 
grieved to leave my former class, to which I felt strongly at- 
tached, I have regarded the hand of Providence in bringing 
me into intimacy with that godly young man, as claiming my 
liveliest gratitude. It was the good hand of God upon me ; 
it was the sovereignty of his love, that chastened the aspira- 
tions for literary distinction, and after calling in the day of 
adversity to consider, led me to daily converse with one who 
showed the nature and superlative value of unostentatious, 
consistent piety, and this at the most solemn crisis in my in- 
dividual history. 

" On becoming more particularly acquainted with Nettleton, 
I perceived that he was one who feared God. Ever kind, 
courteous, conscientious and exemplary, unassuming and un- 
ostentatious ; his words and actions bore the most powerful 
testimony in my conscience, to the genuineness of his reli- 
gious principles. He evidently had a taste for the spiritual 
themes and exercises pertaining to religion, so predominant 
and controlling, as to leave small space for merely literary 
ambition. His best loved place was the chapel, listening with 
devout solemnity, to the prayers and preaching of the vene- 
rated D wight. His best loved book was the Bible. His best 
loved day was the Sabbath — and his best loved friends, were 
3* 



30 MEMOIR OF 

those who knew the joys and sorrows of a pious heart. He 
was intimate with only a few select companions, of congenial 
spirit, and who felt most interested in communing together 
upon the topics of doctrinal and experimental religion. 

" In regard to his standing as a scholar, it is true, he was 
not, in this respect, distinguished, as he nev«r rose above the 
ordinary rank in the common course of classical studies. 
This I attribute, not to a defect of native talent, but to the 
following causes. 

" 1. He was remarkably diffident of his own powers, so far 
as to be restrained and embarrassed in his recitations and 
literary performances before the class ; and the same state of 
feeling prevented that resolute, persevering application neces- 
sary for eminence. 

"2. The state of his health through a part of the year, 
when he roomed with me, was much impaired, and in con- 
nection with this, he passed through a protracted season of 
deep mental anxiety and depression in the spring of 1 808, in 
which he greatly questioned the genuineness of his christian 
experience. So severe were his mental trials of this nature, 
as to unfit him for study, for some time, and he was excused 
and permitted to return home, on account of the state of his 
hea-lth. Before returning home, he was wont to repair to the 
President for instruction and counsel, and he directed him 
to the perusal of Edwards on Religious Affections, and loan- 
ed him also, his manuscript sermons on the Evidences of Re- 
generation. With them he went into the most intensely ear- 
nest and sifting self-examination that I ever witnessed, and in 
the course of it, he passed through such agony of spirit, as 
was suited to awaken the liveliest sympathy in those who 
could best understand and appreciate the nature of his dis- 
tress. The all-absorbing question resting on his mind by day 
and by night, mingled with many sighs, tears and groans, 
was, am* I a child of God ? Before the next term he gained 
peace, and enjoyed a better state of health ; but it is evident, 



DR. NETTLETON. 31 

.that this iiiterriipiion of his progress in regular study, had 
a retarding eiiect upon his scholarship, though it may have 
had a momentous influence in giving him uncommon spiritual 
discernment, and in fitting him for that sphere of distinguish- 
ed usefulness on which he afterwards entered. 

•' 3. The peculiar taste and tendencies of Nettleton's mind, 
led him to bestow his intellectual energies, not upon physical 
sciences, and elegant literature, but upon those subjects in 
mental and moral philosophy, which stood most closely con- 
nected with the truths of theology. In topics of this nature, 
he ever manifested an uncommon interest, and quickness of 
thought, -with clearness of perception and power of discrim- 
ination. It was evidently a favorite employment to engage in 
friendly discussions upon such themes, with those who were 
disposed to investigate them ; particularly with students in 
theology then residing at Yale College. At such times, his 
countenance, though not specially expressive in ordinary cir- 
cumstances, would light up with animation, and his eye 
sparkle with brilliance, plainly indicating that then his mind 
was in its chosen element. In whatever enlisted his feelings, 
he vv'as manifestly capable of close and successful investiga- 
tion. But aiming at a higher mark than mere literary or 
scientific distinction, he sought to furnish his mind with that 
knowledge which relates directly to the great ends of human 
existence, the present and immortal interests of the soul. 
During his last year in college, he roomed with his beloved 
christian brother, Philander Parmele, and it is my impres- 
sion, that with him, he devoted what time could be spared 
from customary classical studies, to the study of theology. 
In the exercises of the class he took a higher rank than in 
the preceding year, and acquitted himself with respectability. 
With these statements, however, truth compels me to admit, 
that I had not then discovered in him any such traits of intel- 
lectual character as led to anticipations in any measure corres- 



32 MEMOIR OF 

poiident with the well known facts of his subsequent his- 
tory.* 

" Nettleton was held in respect by all in college, but pecu- 
liarly loved, -and highly esteemed by christian professors. 
His spirit was excellent, and his example unexceptionable. 
If any affected to look superciliously upon him, on account of 
the plainness and simplicity of his manners, they knew and 
felt his superior moral worth. He was a vigilant observer of 
the indications of religious seriousness and anxiety among the 
students, and took the earliest and liveliest interest in all such 
cases. Burdened as I myself was, with the danger and mis- 
ery of my impenitent state, in the forepart of the year, when 
I roomed with him, he was not slow to discover the fact, 
though not officious to insist upon a disclosure of my feelings. 
As he was a professor of religion, I proposed, soon after he 
became my room-mate, to unite with him in prayer, after the 
close of the studies of each evening, expecting only to read 
the scriptures as my part of the exercise. He agreed to pray, 
if I also loould. Fearing to decline, though trembling at the 
solemnity of such an engagement, I felt necessitated by my 
conscience to comply with the condition, and take my turn in 
prayer, and it was thus that I was first led to utter the words 
of supplication in the audience of any human being. It was 
a mighty effort, and made with faltering tongue and aching 
heart. He found that I had gone farther than he expected, 
and afterwards once asked me, if I considered myself a 
Christian, and upon my replying no, he inquired, why then do 
you pray ? His object I have supposed, was to deepen my 
conviction of guilt, and it had that effect. To my answer, I 
feel it my duty to pray, he added no remark, discovering prob- 
ably, that my wretched prayers gave me no comfort, but in- 
creased the heavy burden pressing upon my heart. More 

* President Dwight is reported to have said of Nettleton, while a member of 
CoUege, " He will make one of the most useful men this country has ever 
seen." This is one among many instances of the sagacity of that great man. 



DR. NETTLETON. 33 

than once, after these seasons, when I have been weeping 
over my lost condition, that kind friend has approached my 
pillow upon retiring to his own bed, and has gently endeavor- 
ed to elicit an expression of my feelings. When seeino- me 
afraid to disclose my state of mind, he has withdrawn, some- 
times as I have reason to believe, to unite with some chris- 
tian brother in prayer, on my behalf, and thus committed my 
case and that of others, to that God who had taken me in 
hand, and who alone could renew my heart. 

" At this time, in the winter of 1807-8, a revival of religion 
began in New Haven, and in Yale College. The first subjects 
of it among the students were in the Freshman class. Net- 
tleton was no indifferent spectator, but among the first to dis- 
cover indications of special religious impressions, and to seek 
out persons in a state of religious anxiety. Then, contrary to 
what I had before v/itnessed of intimacy between the upper 
and lower classes, often did I see him with one or two heart- 
burdened youth of the youngest class, walking arm in arm in 
the college yard, before evening prayers, conversing upon the 
great interests of the soul. I observed that so soon as he 
became acquainted vv^th a student under religious impressions, 
his company and counsel were sought and greatly prized ; 
and it was manifest that his conversation Avith such individ- 
uals, his silent and unostentatious labors, in connection with 
his christian brethren in their meeting for prayer and confer- 
ence, held a very prominent and important place in that mem- 
orable and joyful season. His feelings were most deeply 
interested in the whole progress of the revival, and it seemed 
almost to absorb his mind by day and by night." 

In addition to the foregoing statement, a few other facts 
connected with the history of his college life, will now be 
mentioned. 

In the American Quarterly Register for February, 1838, 
there is a history of revivals in Yale College. On page 299, 



34 MEMOIR OF 

in the account of the rcAdval in 1808, is the followiiig 
statement. 

" There was one case in this revival, which awakened very- 
general sympathy, and to which I shall advert for a moment, 
because it shows how God sometimes makes use of the suffer- 
ings of one, to subdue the obstinacy of another. A member 
of one of the lower classes, became deeply anxious for his 
spiritual welfare, at the commencement of the seriousness. 
He was, indeed, the first person in college, probably, who 
was under conviction of sin. As the work went on, others 
who were awakened at a much later period, w^ere apparently 
brought into the kingdom, and were rejoicing in hope, while 
he was left in the bitterness of despair, with the arrows of the 
Almighty drinking up his spirit. His health rapidly declined 
under his sufferings. He was confined in a great measure 
to his bed ; and it was feared that, with a feeble constitution, 
he must soon sink under the weight of his distress, unless 
relief should be obtained. In an adjoining room there lived 
an avowed disbeliever in spiritual religion, who denied the 
reality of a divine influence in revivals, and from the com- 
mencement of the present work, had regarded those who were 
concerned in it with scorn. A christian friend, who knew 
his sentiments, asked him to visit the sufferer, and led him 
toward the bed-side. He stood for a moment looking at the 
emaciated form before him, he listened to the exclamations 
which told the distress and horror of an awakened conscience, 
and then turning, went back to his room, to weep there under 
a sense of his own sin. Not long after, to the wonder of all 
his companions, it was said of him, as of Saul of Tarsus, 
' Behold he prayeth.' He became at once, a decided and ex- 
emplary christian. He afterwards entered into the ministry, 
and devoted himself to the cause of missions ; and has been 
for more than twenty years, an active and successful laborer 
upon heathen ground." 

The reader may be interested to learn the issue of those 



DR. NETTLETON. 35 

sufferings which led to this happy resuh. I shall give the 
relation in the words of one who is best able to speak on this 
subject. It was just at the close of the term and late at night. 
" A few christian friends lingered about the bed of the agoni- 
zed and despairing sinner ; and many were the prayers 
offered, that the balm of Gilead might be applied to his woun- 
ded spirit. At length a messenger was dispatched to summon 
the President, as it seemed to those in attendance, that unless 
relief were had, death must close the scene. The hour was 
late — but he promptly attended the call, and came emphati- 
cally, as one sent of God, as the bearer of good tidings of 
great joy. For a short time he seemed overwhelmed ; so 
deeply did he share in the agony of the agonized. At length, 
however, taking a seat by the bed-side, he gradually directed 
the anxious inquirer unto the divine sufficiency, the infinite 
fullness of the Lord Jesus — recited the invitations of the gos- 
pel, and then followed his paternal counsel by prayer to God. 
That prayer, it is believed, was heard, and the words which 
he spake were a healing balm from on high. A sweet seren- 
ity seemed to steal over the agitated sinner's mind — a serenity 
which was the harbinger of a joy that came in a short time 
after, and was ' unspeakable and full of glory.' " 

In a letter from the individual whose case is described in 
the foregoing statement, he says, " the christian friend" there 

mentioned, " was Mr. Nettleton. The infidel was Mr, , 

[now a missionary of the American Board.] The messen- 
ger who went for President D wight, was Mr. Nettleton. He 
remained with me all night. He was besieging the throne 
of grace. His whole soul seemed bent on my deliverance, 
Man never pleaded with more fervency, and I cannot doubt 
that I was more indebted to him for my relief than to any 
other person. He took such an interest in my salvation, as 
evinced the deepest love for my soul. I think he was a pro- 
fessor of religion before he entered college. What was the 
character of his piety up to the spring of 1 808, of course, I 



36 MEMOIR OF "% 

know not. But I well recollect that soon after I was brought 
under conviction, he found me out, and became one of my 
spiritual guides. I am not quite certain, whether his exer- 
cises which I am about to mention, existed in the earlier part 
of the revival, or a little later. My impression is, that the 
revival found him, in common with other professors, compar- 
atively asleep. But he was soon enlisted, and evinced great 
interest in the work. In a little time, however, he fell into a 
melancholy and desponding state, which at length bordered 
upon despair. He gave up his hope and to me appeared to 
be a most miserable man. I have known him to weep, I may 
say, by the hour, under an overwhelming sense of his vile- 
ness. He would often say, ' I seem to love christians, but I 
am so unvv^orthy — I hope they will not cast me off — do you 
think they will allow such a poor sinner as I am to keep com- 
pany with them ? ' Whatever peculiarity there was in his 
case, (and I think his exercises Avere singular,) here was in- 
volved in it a deep conviction of sin — such a loathing of him- 
self, as I scarcely remember to have heard any other man 
express. It vi^as difficult to convince him that God could have 
mercy on one so vile. Yet he was all this time manifesting 
a deep interest in the cause of Christ and the salvation of 
souls." 

The mind of Mr. Nettleton, as is hinted by Mr. Lee, was 
much turned to theological studies, during his collegiate 
course. Theology indeed, had been his favorite study, ever 
since his attention was turned to the subject of religion. Even 
before he entered college, he had read with attention a large 
part of the writings of Edwards, Hopkins, and Bellamy ; and 
before he graduated, he was better acquainted with systematic 
theology, than many young men are, who are licensed to 
preach the gospel. He took a deep interest in doctrinal dis- 
cussions, and ably vindicated the doctrines of grace, against 
the objections which were urged against them. During his 
senior year, there was much discussion among the professors 



DR. NETTLETON. 37 

of religion, and theological students in college, respecting the 
means of grace. This was occasioned by the sermons which 
were preached at that time by President Dwight on that sub- 
ject, and which are published in the fourth volume of his 
theological discourses. In these sermons, the idea is advan- 
ced, that the prayers and strivings of awakened sinners, 
although they possess no moral goodness, are not to be regard- 
ed, in all cases, as positively sinful.* 

JNIr. Xettleton entertained a high respect for Dr. Dwight. 
On almost all subjects, he received his views without hesita- 
tion, and considered it a great privilege to sit under his in- 
structive preaching. But on this point he differed from him, 
as did also a large part of the pious students in college. He 
believed with Hopkins, and the New England divines gen- 
erally, that sinners, properly speaking, never use, but always 
abuse the means of grace — that in all their efforts to escape 
future misery, and secure future happiness, they are influenced 
by unholy motives, and that their religious services are mer- 
cenary and sinful. In this opinion, which appeared to him 
to be clearly taught in the scriptures, he w^as greatly confirmed 
by his own religious experience. While under conviction of 

* The following is an extract from one of these serm.ms. 

"To ask of God for happiness and final safety, is not necessarily insincere, 
nor guilty, even in sinners. When sinners ask for mere mercy, or mere hap- 
piness, or mere safety, they may desire either as truly as saints ; although their 
desires are not virtuous. So far as their desires are merely natural, insepara- 
ble from their nature, and sincere, they are not morally wrong; nor are they 
exhibited in the scriptures, as objects of divine anger. Accordingly the prayer 
of the publican, who was, I think, plainly a sinner, was not regarded with mere 
anger by God; and was exactly such a prayer as I have mentioned ; a prayer 
for mere mercy and safety. He went down io his house justified rather than the 
Pharisee, because he had in some important respects, a just sense of his char- 
acter, and a sincere desire to be delivered from the dangers of it, while the 
Pharisee had neither." 

[Few orthodox men would probably agree with Dr. Dwight in supposing the 
publican to represent an unrenewed sinner. He has been generally regarded 
as a striking example of genuine repentance.] 



38 MEMOIR OF 

sin, he had such discoveries of his own heart, as to impress 
indelibly upon his mind, a conviction of the entire sinfulness 
of the religious services of unrenewed men. There was no 
one point in theology, on which his mind was more fully es- 
tablished than this ; or on which he more strenuously insisted, 
during his life, both in the pulpit, and in his conversation with 
awakened sinners. He considered it a point of great practical 
importance, and particularly useful in destroying the self- 
righteous hopes of sinners, and in showing them their utterly 
lost condition, and entire dependence on the grace of God. 
This was a weapon which he wielded with great power, and 
which seemed to be in his hands, pre-eminently the Sword of 
the Spirit. 

The following extract of a letter written to his friend Par- 
mele, soon after he graduated, will show, not only what were 
his views on this subject at that period, but also how capable 
he was of defending them. 

" With respect to the works of the unregenerate — of those 
especially who think they understand the way of salvation by 
Christ, I would answer a few things. My friend, you know 
there are various ways (if I may so speak,) of painting truth 
to the understanding. The actions of the body in the first 
place, are neither good nor bad in themselves, any more than 
the rustling of a leaf or the motions of any other matter. 
What then ? Why the motions or operations of the heart are 
the only good or bad actions in the sight of God. God looks 
on the heart. And it is impossible that any thing should be 
morally good or bad in any other sense than as God regards 
it. True, men may call all manner of wickedness, good ; but 
does giving it the name, by any wonderful process infuse into 
it the nature of good ? If not, then let us inquire what God 
calls good, and what evil. Now I can conceive of only three 
states in which it is possible for the mind to be, in respect to 
any object — Love^ Hatred or Indifference. Now these are 
not nice distinctions — finely spun out — they are distinctions 



DR. NETTLETON. " 39 

which we must understand, or we cannol know what is good, 
or what is evil in a moral sense. Love, hatred, or indiffer- 
ence to God as the object, either directly or indirectly, in 
ways unnumbered, are the only possible ways of sinning, or 
doin^ moral good. 

"1. Do unregenerate men love God? If so, then reason 
says there is no regeneration. ' Every one that loveth is born 
of God.' ' God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwell- 
eth in God and God in him.' It is intuitively evident, then, 
that if all who love God are regenerated, or born of God, all 
who are not born of God, do not love him. Besides, all who 
are not born of God, the scriptures say, are in the flesh. 
' That which is born of the flesh, is flesh, and that vvhich is 
born of the spirit, is spirit.' ' They that are in the flesh,' or 
are not born of the spirit, the Apostle says ' cannot please 
God.' I would ask then, for an answer to this plain question, 
can he who cannot please God, do anything acceptable to him 1 
Or does God require him to do what is not acceptable to him ? 
Should it be said, it may be accepted on account of the merits 
of Christ ; I would answer, what have those to do with the 
merits of Christ, or even the name of Christ, who reject him, 
and who ' loill not come unto him ? ' — who are, the very mo- 
ment v/hen they pray, in heart his betrayers and murderers ! 
But it will be said, although they are not regenerate, yet they 
are well-wishers, — they are seeking earnestly to become chris- 
tians — they know that without Christ they must forever perish ; 
it would therefore, not only be cruel, but very unjust to give 
them the lie, by telling them they reject Christ and are his 
enemies. Let Christ answer. ' He that is not with me, is 
against me.' And besides, that they are not regarded for 
their own doings, nor their doings on account of the merits of 
Christ, is evident ; for it would be as much inconsistent with 
the moral perfections of God, to regard the doings of the un- 
regenerate, as it would be if Christ had never died. It is the 



40 MEMOIR OF 

same thing with regard to the imregenerate, while they re- 
main thus, as if Christ had never died. 

'' If then, nothing is done acceptable to God where love is 
absent, it needs no proof to show that what is done in the 
exercise of hatred, or in indifference, is neither acceptable 
nor required. But to leave this mode of reasoning, whence 
is it that those who have good evidence that they are born 
again, and enjoy the consolations of the divine spirit, renounce 
the opinion against which I am now contending, and begin to 
adopt the very language of the blind man when restored to 
sight, ' now we know that God heareth not sinners V 

"But the reason why the genuine gospel is not received by 
the unrenevv^ed is as plain as the sun in the heavens. You 
remember what it is, that ' is not subject to the law of God, 
neither indeed can be.' The genuine gospel has ever been 
considered an insult to the public taste. I care not for cor- 
rectness of sentiment — for natural amiableness or suavity of 
disposition, and for the whole host of natural affections — 
wherever the true gospel comes — wherever it is explained 
and understood, if it be nOt cordially received and embraced, 
it will assuredly awaken disgust and provoke abhorrence. 
Nor can it be otherwise ; for its principal design is to mortify 
the pride of man, and to display the glory of sovereign 
grace — to level all hunian excellence in the dust, and to ele- 
vate even to thrones of glory, the needy and the wretched — 
to reject the proud and give grace to the humble. The true 
gospel pays no respect to the academic, because of his pro- 
found learning, nor to the moralist, on account of his upright 
conduct. It pays not the least regard to the courtier, because 
of his pompous honors, nor to the devotee on account of his 
zeal or his righteousness. No, the potent prince and the ab- 
ject slave, the wise philosopher, and the ignorant rustic, the 
virtuous lady and the infamous prostitute, all stand on the same 
level in its coinprehensive sight. Its business is with the 
worthless and miserable wherever it finds them. If these be 



DR. NETTLETON. 41 

relieved, its end is accomplished — its work is done. To re- 
ward these is its supreme delight. But the self-sufficient of 
every rank, are treated by it with the utmost reserve, and be- 
hold by it with a constant and most steady contempt. The 
hungry it filleth with good things, but the rich it sendeth emp- 
ty away. In short, all the fine words which are spoken — 
the sociability and extreme politeness with which she is 
treated, and the high commendations [' good master,' ' Lord, 
Lord,'] with which she is loaded from the good-hearted^ well- 
wishing world, can never provoke her stern and angry counte- 
nance into. a smile, or a single look of complacency. But on 
the truly contrite, she looks with a cheering smile and a heav- 
enly countenance, to revive and cheer the drooping heart of 
the contrite ones. O, glorious gospel, heavenly messenger of 
good tidings ! Welcome sweet messenger of peace ! Friend, 
I believe that the Christian who sees his own heart in the 
light of the gospel, is really and heartily ashamed of his very 
best performances. Grace hath laid the foundation of the 
sinner's hope. Grace erects the building, and the head stone 
thereof shall be brought forth with shoutings, crying grace, 
grace unto it." 

During his junior year in college, he became acquainted 
Avith Samuel J. Mills. This was brought about in the follow- 
ing manner. Simeon Woodruff, a classmate and intimate 
friend of Nettleton, happened one vacation to fall in company 
with Mills, and heard him converse on the subject of missions, 
and his plans of life. " You talk," said Woodruff, "just like 
one of my classmates. He says, he intends never to be set- 
tled, but to be a missionary to the heathen." Mills was so 
much interested in this intelhgence, that he took a journey to 
New Haven, on purpose to become acquainted with Nettleton. 
They spent much time in consultation, and were happy to find 
a perfect coincidence of views on the subject of missions. 
Mills informed him of Hall, and others of his acquaintance, 
who entertained similar views. The next year, Mills having 
4* 



4S MEMOIR or 

graduated at Williams' College, spent a few months as a resi- 
dent graduate at Yale. "His ostensible object," says his 
biographer, " was the study of theology; but his real object 
was to ascertain whether there were not some kindred spirits 
in this Institution, who could be excited and encouraged in. 
this glorious enterprise." It was not, perhaps, known to his 
biographer, that there was one kindred spirit in that Institu- 
tion, with whom he had already become acquainted, and with 
whom he wished to hold funher intercourse. He and Nettie- 
ton conferred much on the subject, and entered into an agree- 
ment to avoid all entangling alliances, and to hold themselves 
in readiness to go to the heathen, whenever God, in his Prov- 
idence should prepare the way. They also formed the pur- 
pose of meeting the next year at Andover, and while pursuing 
their theological studies, to mature their plans of future ac- 
tion. This purpose, Mr. Nettleton found himself under the 
painful necessity of abandoning, on account of a debt which 
he had contracted while obtaining his education ; and which 
he wished to discharge, as soon as possible. Both he and 
Mills, felt the disappointment deeply. Mills advised him to 
make application to some friends to liquidate the debt for 
him ; but this he was unwilling to do ; and soon after he grad- 
uated, at the earnest solicitation of Dr. Dwight, he accepted 
the office of Butler in college. This office he held nearly a 
year, devoting what leisure time he could command, to theo- 
logical studies. He then repaired to Milford, and put himself 
urder the instruction of the Rev. Bezaleel Pinneo, with 
whom he remained until he received license to preach the 
gospel. 

Mr. Pinneo, in a letter to the writer, thus speaks of him. 

" I have no recollection of noticing any thing extraordinary 
in respect to his piety. I had been acquainted with him be- 
fore. He was, indeed, while a member of College, consider- 
ably distinguished for his piety, and strict orthodoxy. He 
very much disliked Dr. Dwight's idea of the prayers and 



DR. NETTLE TON. 43 

doings of the unregenerate, being in certain cases without sin, 
and of a mere neutral character. Doctrinal theology was the 
great subject of his meditation, study and delight, to which he 
gave his strength from the first. Nor was it with him a mat- 
ter of dry speculation. His christian experience grew out of 
a cordial belief and reception of these doctrines, and was 
modified by them ; so that his christian character was uncom- 
monly mature at this period, for one of his years ; or rather 
I may say, for one who had been no longer in the vineyard. 
He was not born a sickly puny child, but of uncommon healih 
and vigor, as appears by his not conferring with flesh and 
blood, but devoting himself to the service of God, in its most 
self-denying forms ; resolving by the will of God, to preach 
the gospel to the heathen ; a duty, which at that time, had but 
just begun to be thought of." 

Mr. Nettleton was licensed to preach, by the West Associ- 
ation of New Haven county, at the house of the Rev. Dr. 
Trumbull, in North Haven, May 28th, 1811.* 

In June, 1810, Messrs. Judson, Nott, Mills and Newell, at 
that time, members of the Theological Seminary at Andover, 
presented themselves before the General Association of Mas- 
sachusetts, in Bradford, and made known their convictions of 
the duty and importance of personally attempting a mission 
to the heathen, and requested the advice of the Association. 
This movement, it is well known, led to the organization of 
the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 
Mr. Nettleton was at this time Butler in Yale College. Had 
he gone to Andover after he graduated, as he intended, he 
would doubtless have been one of the company. When he 
heard what had been done, he lamented with tears, that he 
could not have been there. He feared that it was an indica- 
tion of Providence, that he was not to be permitted to become 
a missionary. His purpose, however, remained steadfast 

* He was ordained as an evangelist, by the South Consociation of Litchfield 
county, in the summer of 1817, 



44 MEMOIR OF &C. 

The reader is doubtless anxious, by this time, to know why 
Mr. Nettleton did not become a missionary, as he intended. 
The reasons can be stated in few words. Soon after he be- 
gan to preach, his labors were crowned with signal success. 
Wherever he went, the Spirit of God seemed to accompany 
his preaching. His brethren in the ministry, witnessing the 
success of his labors, were of opinion that he ought, at least, 
to delay the execution of his purpose to leave the country. 
In deference to their opinion, he consented to delay ;-and as 
his labors became increasingly successful, his brethren were 
more and more convinced that God had called him to labor as 
an evangelist at home. Still, he never entirely abandoned the 
idea of a foreign mission, until his health failed in 1822. 



CHAPTER III. 

His labors in the eastern part of Connecticut, where he obtains a knowledge of the 
measures which were adopted by Davenport, and others, in the great revival of 
1740, and of their results in producing a moi-al desolation.— His acciuaintance with 
certain evangelists. — His opinion of the expediency of employing evangelists as 
assistants of settled pastors. 

After receiving license to preach, Mr. Nettleton refused 
to consider himself a candidate for settlement, because he 
intended and expected to engage in the missionary service as 
soon as the Providence of God should prepare the way. 
He chose therefore to commence his labors in waste places, 
and in some the most desolate parts of the I>ord's vineyard. 
He accordingly \vent to the eastern part of Connecticut, on 
the borders of Rhode Island. Here he preached for a few 
months, in several places which had long been destitute of 
settled pastors, and which had been overrun by fanatical sects 
of various descriptions. In some of these places, there had 
once been flourishing churches, with excellent pastors ; but 
they had been made desolate more than half a century before, 
by the measures which Davenport and other evangelists of 
that period, introduced. He became acquainted with some 
aged people, who gave him an account of the proceedings of 
that day, and of their results as they had been developed in 
the course of half a century. He also found some pamphlets 
and books from which he obtained much important informa- 
tion respecting the disorders which prevailed after the revival 
of 1740.* He has often spoken with deep interest of this 

* There is a very good account of these disorders in an old pamphlet, con- 
taining nine sermons by the Rev. Joseph Fish, pastor of a church in Stonington, 



46 MEMOIR OF 

period of his labors, and of the use which the information he 
at that time obtained, was to him in after life. He learned 
that those who labor as evangelists, even if they have the 

preached in 1763. He seems to have been a sound and faithful minister of the 
gospel. He was the pastor of a large and flourishing church, which had shared 
richly in the revival of 1740. But his parish was one of the theatres of Daven- 
port's operations, the result of which was, as he informs us in his preface, that 
not less than two-thirds of his congregation withdrew from his ministry, and 
formed themselves into separate societies. The sermons were preached twenty 
years after these separations took place, and their object was to make the youth 
of his flock acquainted with the scenes through which their church and society 
had passed. As this pamphlet is but little known at the present day, and as 
the facts which it contains, are well worthy to be preserved, I have thought it 
might be useful to make a few extracts. 

" About twenty-three or twenty-four years go, there was the most wonderful 
work of God that ever was known in this part of the world, both for the extent, 
and visible appearance of it. It seems there was a general thoughtfulness 
about religion prevailing in the minds of the people, before they made it manifest 
by word. The ministers of Christ were stirred up to preach with uncommon 
zeal and solemnity, and the people were as ready to hear with unusual attention, 
while the things of eternity were charged home to the conscience. 

"The work went on gloriously. The standing ministers, (there being no 
other then in the land,) became more abundant and fei-\'ent in their labors, as 
they saw their people were attentive to hear. Nor did they labor in vain. 
Scarce a sermon could be preached, but the hearts of the people, more or less, 
would be touched, and some deeply aff"ected. While we were thus engaged in 
religion, a new and surprising scene opened upon us ; even such religious opear- 
tions and appearances as engaged both the careless, and the seri6us, to come and 
see and hear for themselves. In these strange operations, there was a marvellous 
mixture of almost every thing good and bad — truth and error, chaff and wheat. 
For while the spirit of God wrought powerfully, Satan raged maliciously, and 
acted his old subtle part to deceive. This happened, or at least was carried to 
the highest pitch, under the preaching and ministrations of a wonderful, strange, 
good man, (the Rev. James Davenport of Long Island,) who visited these parts 
in the time of our religious concern and awakening ; a young man of undoubted 
real piety, fervent zeal for God, love to souls, and ardent desire to advance the 
Redeemer' s kingdom. But, (thus it was permitted,) a man, while with us, 
under the powerful influence of dt. false spirit, in a great part of his conduct, as 
many then told him, and as he himself did afterwards acknowledge with deep 
abasement. Satan taking the advantage of his zeal in religion, transformed 
himself into an angel of light, and hurried him into extremes ; yea, artfully 
carried him beside the truth and duty, and beyond the bounds of decency. * 
* * " The thmgs promoted by him that were evidently and dreadfully wrong, 
are such as these. He not only ^ave an unrestrained liberty to noise and outcry 



DR. !\ETTLETOX. 4/ 

best intentions, are in peculiar danger of mistaking false, for 
true zeal ; and of being betrayed into great indiscretions. He 
learned also, that the imprudences of one evangelist may 

both of distress and joy in time of divine service, but promoted both with all his 
might." * * * " Those persons that passed immediately from great dis- 
tress to great joy and delight, (which 'tis ti-ue, have their place in religion,) 
after asking them a few questions, were instantly proclaimed converts, or said 
to have come to Christ, and upon it the assembly were told that a number, it may 
be teii or fifteen have come to Christ already, who will come next ? When (I 
desire to speak it with sorrovv) numbers of such converts, in a little time, returned 
to their old way of living — were as carnal, wicked, and void of christian expe- 
rience as ever they were. Again — He was a great favorer of visions, trancesi 
imaginations and powerful impressions upon the mind in others, and made such 
inward feelings the rule of his conduct in many respects ; especially if the impres- 
sion came with a text of scripture, which he looked upon to be opened to him at 
such a time and in such cases, pointing out his duty which he would accordingly 
pursue. Upon such powerful impressions and openings of scripture, he went 
to Boston, strongly persuaded that muhitudes in that great city, (to use his own 
expressions,) would be converted by his preaching there. But as Mr. Edwards 
rightly observes, such circumstances attending religious affections are no sure 
sign that they are gracious or truly religious. He was a great encourager, if not 
the first setter up of public exhorters ; not restricting them to the gospel rule or 
order of brotherly exhortations ; but encouraging any lively zealous christians, (so 
reputed) to exhort publicly, in full assemblies, with all the air and assurance of 
ministerial authoritative exhorting; although they were exceeding raw and 
v.nskillful in the word of righteousness, and altogether unequal to the solemn 
undertaking. However, they being very warm and zealous, spake boldly and 
freely, [which qualities of speech, by the way, Mr. Edvi-ards judiciously observes, 
are no sure signs of gi-acious, religious affections,] and so were highly esteemed 
— ^liad in admiration, and prefen-ed before the letter learned rabbis, scribes, and 
pharisees, and unconverted ministers ; which ^^rases the good man would frequently 
use in his sermons, with such peculiar marks, not only of odium, but of imlica- 
tion, as served to beget a jealousy in many of the people's minds, that their 
ministers were the letter-learned, unconverted teachers which he aimed at. 
And thus the exhorters came into credit among multitudes of people, who 
chose rather to hear them than their old teachers, which served directly to puff 
them up with spiritual pride, and fitted them for the daring undertaking which 
folloM-ed. By these means the standing ministers began to fall in their credit 
and esteem among the people ; especially among such as were reckoned the 
foremost christians ; many of whom with the bloated exhorters, began to treat 
their ministers with such assurance, haughtiness and contempt as plainly spoke 
their sentiments that they knew more and better how to teach, than they ; espe- 
cially if the ministers opposed them, or only questioned whether they were 
right. And thus the seeds of discord and disunion were sown, and a founda- 



48 MEMOIR OF 

produce incalculable evils ; evils which will extend through 
many generations. While surveying these fields of moral 
desolation, he became deeply impressed with the importance 

tion laid for after separations. But what tended more effectually than all that 
has been said, to prepare the way for separation was this that followed : This 
zealous good man, from a sense hopefully at first, of the eminent danger of aa 
unconverted ministry, both to themselves and the people, was betrayed by the 
false spirit, into that bold, daring enterprise, of going through the country to 
examine all the mlnisiers in private, and then publicly to declare his judgment of 
their spiritual state. And this he did, whenever he could be admitted to examine 
them. Some that he examined, [though for aught that appeared,] as godly as 
himself, were pronounced in his public prayers immediately after exaniiuLilion, 
to be unconverted. And they who declared this design and practice of his to be 
unscriptural, and so refused to be examined by him, were sure to suffer the same 
fate ; they were condemned by him as Christless ; or [which amounted to as 
much with the populace,] he would declare that he had reason to fear they were 
unconverted ; in which cases, he could ordinarily have no other ground or reason 
for his fear, than that of their refusing submission to his tribunal. Many good 
people thinking highly of Mr. Dp-venport, as though he was authorized from 
heaven to proceed in this manner, and at the same time, having great regard for 
their own ministers, seemed even as much concerned lest they should not stand 
the trial, [when examined,] as if they were going before the judge of all the earth. 
* * * "Now the counsel of this strange man, lohich he counselled in those 
days, was, [like the counsel of Ahithophel,] as if a man had inquired at the oracle 
of God. MuUitudes of honest good people believed every thing that he said} 
and had such a veneration for all that he did, that if they could quote the word and 
example of Mr. Davenport, 'twas enough with them to justify any of the wild, 
unscriptural notions and ways which they through weakness had run into. So 
that a minister could not gainsay or correct them, under the price of his repu- 
tation. The things which 1 have mentioned, [to which many more might doubt- 
less be added,] were such manifest errors, that even the carnal and ungodly 
world, could not but see and know they were wrong. And so herein they 
agreed with some judicious good people and discerning ministers, who opposed 
them as such. And for this reason, the good and the bad were ranked together, 
and frequently run upon by those who were zealous for these things, and declared 
to be cjjposers of the work of God, and on the enemy^s side. He that speaks to 
you, being an eye and ear witness to all, or the substance of what has been 
related, is the more free in declaring these things unto you. * * * " Hav- 
ing gone on a year, or more, [if I mistake not,] in the practices above stated, he 
was, by the gentle treatment and earnest expostulation of some pious and judi- 
cious ministers, put upon serious reflection and close examination of his strange 
conduct in the things which have been related, and others similar to them. 
And after some months' deliberation, and earnest seeking to the Father of lights, 
he was deliberately, clearly and fully convinc-^d of his errors. The mask was 



D R , N E T T L E T O N . 49 

of a settled ministry. He saw that where there is no settled 
ministry, the minds of the people become unsettled in regard 
to religious truth, and they are easily carried about by " every 
wind of doctrine;" that errorists of every description come 

thrown aside — the delusions of satan appeared to him in their own horrid light ; 
and the dreadful consequences of his awful mistakes, filled him wiih deep 
concern. He was made sensible of the injury he had done to ndnisters and 
churches ; how he had broke the order of the gospel by causing divisions and 
otTences ; and on the whole, that he had brought reproach on the glorious work 
of God, and endangered the souls of nien. For these things he was deeply 
abased ; humbled himself before the Lord, and lay in the dust. Hereupon he 
returned and visited many of the places where he had so grievously erred 
and offended, to see if he might by any means repair the dam.age he had done. 
When he came to this town, it was with such a mild, pleasant, meek and humble 
spirit, broken and contrite, as I scarce ever saw ejiceeded or even equalled. 
He not only owned his fault in private, and in a most christian manner asked 
forgiveness of some ndnisters whom he had before treated amiss, but in a large 
assembly, made a public recantation of his errors and mistakes, and particularly 
mentioned and declared against some, if not all that I have e.xposed in this nar- 
rative, as well as others that I have not mentioned." He gave a full and solem.n 
testimony to the work of God that was carried on in the land, by the outpouring 
of his blessed Spirit,, in tliose things that were really and properly God's work ; 
and said that he doubted not but that Jie, though [as he added] most unworthv% 
had been made an instrument for the saving good of many souls ; but he declared 
with all humility and openness of heart, that in many things, such as above, he 
had grievously erred. He told us how the Lord had led him to a sight of his 
errors, and convinced him fully that he had been under the powerful influence 
of the false spirit ; though in the time of its operation, he verily thought 'twas 
the spirit of God in a high degree. Thus the good man, [no longer the noisy, 
boisterous, rash and censorious Davenport, but the meek, hum.ble, and yet the 
fervent man of God,] confessed, bevv-ailed, and warned against the errors which 
he had unhappily spread and promoted. How great and how happy the change ! 
But how is he now received and hearkened to by those zealous people, w ho, in 
the time of his wildness and false zeal, were ready to adore him? Why, verily, 
they that were not convinced of their own, and his former mistakes, were far 
from being pleased by his present conduct. They saw that he was turned 
against them, that is, against some of their darling principles and ways, and 
thought that he was now become their enemy, in those things \sherein lie only told 
them the truth. They now looked upon him to be cold, dead and lifeless — that 
he had got away from God,- and joined in a great measure v\ith the world of 
opposers, and carnal ministers. In a word, they were sadly disappointed, sorely 
vexed, or disquieted in their spirits, grievously offended, [that is, numbers of 
them] and on the whole, they all rejected his message." pp. 1]4 — 128. 
5 



50 M E M O I R O F 

in and occupy the ground, and that when there is any religious 
excitement among them, it is peculiarly liable to run into the 
wildest fanaticism. In the minds of a people thus situated, 
religion and fanaticism become identified. They know of no 
other kind of religion, and of course, they seek and expect 
no other. He found that the churches which had been made 
desolate by the labors of Davenport and his coadjutors half a 
century before, had remained desolate until that time — that 
there still existed among the people, the most violent preju- 
dices against settled pastors, and all regular ecclesiastical 
organizations. He saw that the same self-righteous and 
denunciatory spirit which first rent and scattered the churches, 
was still prevalent, and that those measures which accompany 
and promote fanaticism ; such as calling persons to the anx- 
ious seat, requesting them to rise to be prayed for, or to signify 
that they had given their hearts to God ; encouraging females 
to exhort and pray in promiscuous assemblies, &c., were still 
rife among them. These measures were adopted in these 
v/aste places, not only by Methodists, FrecMdll Baptists and 
Christ-ians, but by Congregationalists. 

It is proper here to state, that there were, at that period, 
some evangelists of our own denomination, (not unlike some 
more modern evangelists,) who were in the habit of visiting 
these waste places, and who imbibed and encouraged the 
spirit above described. Some of these evangelists appeared 
to be good men ; but they were greatly deficient in prudence, 
and were often impelled by a false zeal. They were usually 
found arrayed against settled pastors, and their influence went 
to prom.ote the interests of the fanatical sects, with which 
they were in the habit of co-operating in their religious meet- 
ings. These evangelists, and those with whom they associa- 
ted, perceiving that Mr. Nettleton was a young man of zeal, 
took great pains to draw him into their views, and to infuse 
into his mind prejudices against settled pastors, by insinuating 
that they were enemies to revivals, and thus to secure his co- 



DR.NETTLETON. 51 

operation in their radical movements. But he at once per- 
ceived, that they were actuated by a wrong spirit, and that the 
course which they were pursuing, was adapted not to pro- 
mote, but to injure the cause of religion. He saw that the 
whole weight of their influence was employed to increase and 
perpetuate the prejudices of the people against sound doc- 
trine, and ecclesiastical order ; and that so far from repair- 
ing the wastes of Zion, they were only making them more 
desolate. 

The knowledge which he obtained while laboring in this 
region, led him to entertain great respect for the pastoral 
office. He was convinced that without a settled ministry, 
there could be no rational prospect of building up churches, 
or of enjoying genuine revivals of religion ; that flocks scat- 
tered upon the mountains with no faithful shepherd to watch 
and feed them, would become the prey of " ravening wolves." 
He became also convinced that a tremendous responsibility 
rests upon those who labor as evangelists ; and that it is their 
duty not to weaken the hands of settled pastors, but to do all 
in their power to strengthen them. This lesson was of im- 
mense importance to him, in preparing him for that course of 
labor to which he was destined ; and it is doubtless one reason 
why he was enabled to shun those indiscretions into which 
most evangelists have fallen. 

We have seen how Mr. Nettleton came to be an evangel- 
ist. His brethren persuaded him to relinquish for a season 
his favorite and long cherished purpose of becoming a mis- 
sionary to the heathen ; and the time never came, while he 
had health and strength to labor as an evangelist, when they 
thought it would be right for him to relinquish an employ- 
ment in which God was favoring him with such signal suc- 
cess. While engaged in this employment, it was his desire 
to confine his labors to waste places, and destitute congrega- 
tions ; and it was not without great reluctance, and much 
solicitation, that he consented to labor as an assistant to set- 



52 MEMOIR OF 

tied pastors. He was never complained of for thrusting him- 
self into parishes where his assistance was not desired ; but 
the complaint continually was, that it was so difficult to obtain 
him. The late Dr. Porter of Andover, thus speaks of him in 
his letters on reviA^als. 

" About the close of the period which I attempted to de- 
ficribe in former letters, the Rev. Asahel Nettleton devoted 
himself to the work of an evangelist. With his eminent 
qualifications for this work, and usefulness in it, I presume 
you are well acquainted. The fact, however, which it is 
especially to my present purpose to mention, and which prob- 
ably many of you do not knov.^, is, that this distinguished itin- 
erant found no diiTiculty to labor with stated pastors without 
making himself their rival. If, in any instance, he could not 
conscientiously coincide in the views, or co-operate in the 
measures of a pastor, among whose charge he was invited to 
labor, he did not sow dissension in that church, nor seek to 
detach their affections from their minister, but quietly with- 
drev,- to another place. The consequence was, that the visits 
of this devoted servant of Christ, icerc always sougJd, and never 
dreaded, nor regretted by ministers or churches." 

An instance, probably, cannot be mentioned, in which the 
influence of Mr. Nettleton led to the dismission of a pastor ; 
but many instances might be mentioned, in which he was 
instrumental in strengthening the hands of pastors. He would 
treat ministers with such kindness, and speak of them with 
such respect, as to make the impression on the minds of their 
people, that they were worthy of their confidence ; and thus 
not a few, who haa almost lost their influence, were firmly 
reinstated in the affections of their people. In this way he 
exhibited great wisdom ; and when in connection with this 
fact, we take into consideration the success of his labors, it is 
not surprising that his visits were so highly prized by minis- 
ters and churches. 

Halving already somewhat anticipated the course of events, 



DR. NETTLETON 



it may not, perhaps, be improper to mention in this place, that 
ahhough the labors of Mr. Nettleton, as an evangelist, were 
instrumental of such abounding good, unmingled, so far as 
could be seen, with any evil ; yet he himself became convin- 
ced that it would be unwise for the churches to adopt the 
system of supporting an order of evangelists, as assistants to 
settled pastors. He remembered what he had learned re- 
specting the operations of Davenport and their results ; also 
the false zeal, and improper spirit manifested by certain itin- 
erants with whom he became acquainted when he began to 
preach ; and in addition to these things, he found that certain 
zealous young men were coming forward every year as evan- 
gelists, who by rashness and imprudence, were doing injury 
to the cause of religion. These things convinced him that 
if this description of laborers were systematically employed, 
more evil than good might confidently be expected as the 
result. 

He has often been heard to say, that a few men might be 
very usefully employed as evangelists, if we could be sure of 
obtaining men of the right character — men of discretion, who 
would co-operate with settled pastors, and aid them in putting 
down irregularities, and promoting order. But believing that 
most who engage in this service, would be men of a different 
character, he discouraged the idea of bringing forward and 
supporting an order of such laborers. This accounts for the 
stand which he took on this subject in 1820. In that year 
the General Association of Connecticut appointed a commit- 
tee to take into consideration the subject of increasing minis- 
terial labor in the several congregations in our connection. 
When that committee met they invited Mr. Nettleton to meet 
with them, and requested his opinion as to the expediency of 
introducing and supporting an order of evangelists. He was 
told that if he would consent to act as an evangelist for the 
State, and locate hiaiself in New Haven, in that capacity, the 
churches would undoubtedly give him an ample support. He 



54 MEMOIR OF 

remarked that he had never yet received a dollar from any be- 
nevolent society, or public association, and that he did not 
choose to labor in this way. He moreover gave it as his 
opinion, that it would be inexpedient to introduce and support 
an order of evangelists. He foresaw the evils that would be 
likely to grow out of the system, if it were made permanent ; 
and they were the very evils which were afterwards so stri- 
kingly realized in some parts of the country. Through his 
influence the project was abandoned. 

In a letter to the Rev. Lavius Hyde, dated Aug. 24, 1829, 
he thus alludes to the facts above stated. 

" The course which I have pursued as an evangelist, is one 
that I never dreamed of, as I suppose you know ; having de- 
signed to be a foreign missionary, from the time I first thought 
of entering the ministry. I feel grieved and sick, when I 
think of some who wish to be evangelists, because they are 
unfit for settled pastors. I have long seen and deplored the 
evil. Did I inform you that at a meeting of a committee of 
the General Association of Connecticut, in 1820, a proposition 
was made to send out a number of evangelists, as the best 
means of promoting revivals of religion, and that I objected ? — 
that they proposed to give me a salary of $1000, annually, 
and that I declined receiving any thing in that line ? " 



CHAPTER IV. 



His labors in Derby, South Britain, south Salem, Danbury, Monroe, North Lyme, 
Hadlyme, Bloomfield, Milton, South Farms, Chester, East Granby, Bolton, Man- 
chester, West Granby. 

Of the effects of Mr. Nettleton's labors, during the few- 
months which he spent in the eastern part of Connecticut, I 
am not able to speak particularly. I have understood, gener- 
ally, that they were not altogether in vain ; that some souls 
were awakened and hopefully converted to Christ. But for 
reasons stated in the preceding chapter, he found it to be an 
unpromising field of labor. 

He afterwards preached several Sabbaths in Derby, with 
some success. A few individuals received impressions which 
issued, as was believed, in a saving conversion to God. 

In the fall of 1812, having received an invitation to preach 
in South Salem, New York, he stopped on his w^ay thither, 
at South Britain, Conn., where the author of this memoir then 
resided. This was the commencement of their acquaintance ; 
an acquaintance, which soon ripened into an endeared friend- 
ship that lasted through life. There was at that time, a very 
interesting revival of religion in South Britain. This induced 
him to prolong his visit for one week. He preached on the 
Sabbath, and attended several other religious meetings, besides 
visiting with the pastor from house to house, and conversing 
with those who were anxious for their souls. His labors 
were very acceptable to the people, and there is reason to 
believe that they were blessed to the saving good of some souls. 



56 MEMOIR OF 

His manner at this time, was somewhat peculiar, but not 
so much so, as to injure his usefulness. His address at the 
first meeting which he attended, will not soon be forgotten by 
those who heard it. It was in a school house, crowded with 
people, not a few of whom were under deep conviction of 
sin. As he arose, being an entire stranger, every eye was 
fixed upon him, and a breathless silence pervaded the assem- 
bly. With great solemnity he looked upon the congregation, 
and thus began. " What is that murmur which I hear? — 1 
wish I had a new heart. What shall I do ? — They tell me to 
repent — I can't repent — I wish they would give me some other 
direction." He thus went on for a short time, personating the 
awakened sinner, and bringing out the feelings of his heart. 
He then changed the form of his address, and in a solemn 
and affectionate manner, appealed to the consciences of his 
hearers, and showed them that they must repent or perish, 
that it was their reasonable duty to repent immediately, and 
that ministers could not direct them to any thing short of 
repentance, without being unfaithful to their souls. The ad- 
dress produced a thrilling effect, and served greatly to deepen 
the convictions x)f those who were anxious. 

During the week that he rem.ained in South Britain, he 
took a lively interest in the revival which was in progress, 
and he left the place with his heart glowing with love to 
souls, and with ardent desires that God would give him grace 
to be faithful to the people among whom he was going to 
labor. From that time, for ten years, it was his happy lot, 
to be employed almost constantly in revivals of religion. 

He went to South Salem. The church was destitute of a 
pastor, and was in a cold and backslidden state. Great spir- 
itual apathy existed in the congregation. He preached on the 
Sabbath, and appointed one or two evening meetings in the 
course of the week. His preaching produced an immediate 
solemnity on the minds of the people ; and in the course of a 
fortnight, there was a development of feeling, which made 



DK. NETTLE TON. 57 

it apparent that the Spirit of God v/as operating on many 
minds. i\.t the close of one of his evening meetings, several 
youths repaired to his lodgings in deep distress, to inquire 
what they must do to be saved. He pointed them to Christ, 
and with affectionate earnestness, urged them immediately to 
repent and believe the gospel. The next day, in visiting 
fiom house to house, he found others under deep religious 
impressions. The seriousness soon spread through the place, 
and the subject of religion became the engrossing topic of 
conversation. In the course of one or two weeks from this 
time, several were found rejoicing in hope. He was exceed- 
ingly anxious lest they should take up with a false and spuri- 
ous hope. He warned them of the danger of self-deception, 
reminded them of the deceitfulness of the human heart, and 
pointed out the various ways in v/liich persons are liable to 
deceive themselves. He also exhibited with great plainness 
the distinguishing marks of genuine conversion. The work 
became powerful, and increased with rapidity, and in the 
course of a few weeks, a large number gave pleasing evi- 
dence of having passed from death unto life. 

After about two months, he left the place. He, did this, 
partly, because th^ people began to take measures to give him 
a call to settle with them as their pastor. Having devoted 
himself to a missionary life, he was determined to listen to 
no such call. Another reason which induced him to leave, 
was, the presumption that the work after having made such 
progress, might be expected to continue, as well without his 
labors, as with them. In this respect, he committed an error, 
as he was afterwards convinced. In the early part of his 
ministry, he thought that he might accom.plish the most good 
by laboring only a short time in a place — that when a revival 
had commenced, he might safely commit it to the care of 
others, and retire to a new field. But experience taught him 
that this was not the way to be most useful. He found it 



58 • MEMO IR O F 

important to prolong his labors, when God was rendering 
them effectual to the salvation of souls. 

After he left South Salem, he preached a few Sabbaths in 
Danbury, a tow^n in the western part of Connecticut. Here 
a work of grace immediately commenced, and several inter- 
esting cases of conversion occurred. Here, too, the people 
began to adopt measures to obtain him for their pastor, which 
induced him to leave sooner than he otherwise would have 
done. He afterwards expressed his regret that he did not re- 
main longer in Danbury, as there was every appearance of 
the commencement of a great and glorious revival. The 
work made but little progress after his departure. 

From Danbury, he v/ent to Monroe. Here, also, success 
attended his labors. To what extent, I am not able to state — 
nor have I been able to learn how long he labored in this 
place. It was, however, but a short time. He preached 
there occasionally, afterwards, and often spoke with interest 
of the young converts, and particularly of one, whose tri- 
umphant death he was called to witness. 

In the spring of 1813, he visited North Lyme, a parish 
near thq mouth of the Connecticut river. The church was 
destitute of a pastor. There was no special seriousness 
when he commenced his labors. But a deep solemnity soon 
pervaded the congregation, and in three or four weeks, a large 
number were anxiously enquiring w^hat they must do to be 
saved. He remained in this place longer than in any of the 
places in which he had previously resided ; and *' much peo- 
ple," in the judgment of charity, w^ere " added unto the Lord.'* 

While in North Lyme, he spent considerable time in assist- 
ing the Rev. Mr. Vail, pastor of the church in Hadlyme. 
Here too, his labors were greatly blessed to the quickening 
of God's people, and to the awakening and conversion of 
sinners. 

In the sumtner of 1813, he preached four Sabbaths in 
Bloomfield. In this place, as in others, the Spirit of God 



DR.NETTLETON. 59 

accompanied his labors, and several interesting cases of 
hopeful conversion occurred. 

In the autumn of 1813, he commenced his labors in 
Milton, a parish in the west part of the town of Litchfield. 
This was a waste place. The people were not only without 
a pastor, but had become so weakened by divisions, and by 
the loss of their parish fund, that they almost despaired of 
ever enjoying again, the privilege of a preached gospel. Dr. 
Beecher, who was at that time pastor of the church in Litch- 
field, and another neighboring minister, agreed to solicit funds 
in their respective congregations, to support a preacher, for a 
season, in Milton. Having entered into this arrangement, 
they made application to Mr. Nettleton. In the mean time, 
the churches in the vicinity were requested to remember that 
people particularly in their prayers. In conformity with the 
arrangement, Mr. Nettleton came, and called on Dr. Beecher. 
It was the first time that they had met. " Thou hast well 
done,'' said Dr. Beecher, '' that thou art come." " I ask,"said 
Mr. Nettleton, " for what intent ye have sent for me V " To 
hear all things that are commanded thee of God," said Dr. 
Beecher. On Friday, by the direction of Dr. Beecher, Mr. 
Nettleton took lodgings at the house of one of the members 
of his church, who lived on the borders of Milton. The 
next day, notice was sent to the people that they might ex- 
pect preaching on the Sabbath. This was entirely unexpect- 
ed by the people, as they were ignorant of the efforts which 
had been m.ade in their behalf. On Sabbath morning, Mr. 
Nettleton repaired to the place, and preached to a very small 
congregation. There v/ere but few professors of religion in 
the place, and they were in a lukewarm state, and very great 
indifference to the subject of religion prevailed among the 
people at large. At the close of public worship, one of the 
people, very reluctantly, as he afterwards confessed, invited 
Mr. Nettleton to his house, because there v/as no other indi- 
vidual who was disposed to do it. In this house, he found a 



60 MEMOIR OF 

pleasant home ; and it proved to be like the house of Obede- 
dom, which God blessed. Salvation came indeed to this 
house, and the family were much more unwilling to part with 
their guest, than they had been to receive him. 

The curiosity of the people was soon excited, and they 
flocked together to hear the stranger who had come so unex- 
pectedly among them. At the close of one of his evening 
meetings, he informed them, that he had been requested to 
come and labor with them for a season, and he wished them 
to pray for a revival of religion, adding, " whether you do or 
not, it is possible there may be one, for christia^ns in other 
places have agreed to pray for you." ■ This produced great 
solemnity. Several went from that meeting in deep distress. 
It was soon manifest, that God was in the place, of a truth. 
The work increased rapidly and became very powerful. It 
was characterized by remarkably clear and distressing convic- 
tions of sin. The subjects had a vivid sense of the opposi- 
tion of their hearts to God, and in some instances, their dis- 
tress was overwhelming. On one evening, two or three indi- 
viduals were in such horror of mind, that it became necessary 
to remove them from the meeting, to a neighboring house. 
This, for the moment, -created some confusion, but order was 
soon restored, when Mr. N. addressed the people in the fol- 
lowing manner. " It may, perhaps, be new to some of you, 
that there should be such distress for sin. But there was 
great distress on the day of Pentecost, when thousands were 
pricked in the heart, and cried out, ' men and brethren, what 
shall we do.' Some of you may, perhaps, be ready to say, 
if this is religion, we wish to have nothing to do with it. My 
friends, this is not religion. Religion does not cause its sub- 
jects to feel and act thus. These individuals are thus dis- 
tressed, not because they have religion, but because they have 
no religion, and have found it out. It was so on the day of 
Pentecost. The thousands who were pricked in their heart, 
had found that they had no religioUj and were unprepared to 



D R . N E T T L E T O N . 61 

meet their God. They had made the discovery that they 
were lost sinners, and that their souls were in jeopardy every 
hour." These may not be the precise words, but such was 
the substance of his address. It produced a salutary effect. 
It served to check what would be the natural result of mere 
sympathy on such an occasion, and also to stop the mouths of 
those who might be disposed to cavil. I would here remark, 
that in most of the revivals under Mr. Nettleton's preaching, 
there were cases of overwhelming distress. But this distress 
w^as not the result of mere sympathy, but of clear conviction 
of sin ; and in almost all cases, it soon terminated in a peace- 
ful and joyful hope of salvation. 

Mr. Nettleton labored in Milton three or four months, dur- 
ing which time a large number became hopefully subjects of 
renewing grace. The wastes of Zion were repaired. The 
things which were ready to die, were strengthened, and there 
was great joy in that place. 

It has been mentioned that Dr. Beecher and another neigh- 
boring minister, agreed. to collect funds for the support of Mr. 
N. while preaching in Milton. Some money was collected 
for this purpose, but he refused to receive it. The people had 
made him some presents in clothing, and with this he w^as 
satisfied. " Having food and raiment," he was " therewith 
content. "* 

While he was at Milton, some young people from South 
Farms, (a parish in the south part of Litchfield,) attended his 
meetings, and were awakened by his preaching. This pre- 
pared the way for him to visit that place, which he did in the 
latter part of the winter. He continued there, laboring with 
great success, for several months. 

* It may be proper here to remark, that during the ten years that Mr. N. was 
laboring in revivals, he received as a compensation for his services, barely suf- 
ficient to defray his expenses. When he was taken sick in 1822, he was found 
to be entirely destitute, and money was collected by his friends in different 
places, to defray the expenses of his sickness. 

6 



62 MEMOIR OF 

An account of this revival was written by James Morris, 
Esq., an intelligent and pious gentleman, who resided in that 
place, and who for many years sustained a high reputation as 
a teacher of youth. The account was never pubUshed, but 
the manuscript has been carefully preserved, and has been 
kindly submitted to my inspection. The narrative is very 
particular. It gives the names and age of eighty individuals, 
the time of each one's hopeful conversion, and some account 
of the religious exercises of almost all of them. 

A few extracts will be interesting to the reader. 

" The revival of religion began in South Farms in February 
or March, 1814. Praised be God for his glorious work of 
redeeming love in the ingathering of his elect. The follow- 
ing persons are hopefully brought out of darkness into God's 
marvelous light, and are made heirs of God and joint heirs of 
Jesus Christ, the dear Redeemer. How astonishing is the 
work of the Divine Spirit, the Sanctifier and Comforter, in 
bringing God's chosen from the bondage of sin and Satan, 
and prostrating them at the foot of the cross. Some have 
been called from among the most dissipated, thoughtless and 
gay ; and from seventy years of age, down to school children. 
Some from the haunts of sensuality, profaneness and intem- 
perance, now apparently sing with understanding the songs 
of redeeming love. 

The first was A S , a 3^oung female eighteen 

years of age. She had her first impressions in Milton in the 
month of January or February. She continued in a state of 
anxious inquiry until the last of February, when she enter- 
tained a hope that she had met with a change of heart. She 
professes to enjoy religion. This was the first instance of 
awakening in this place." 

" R H , aged nineteen years, after a conflict of 

serious impressions and opposition of heart, for about six 
weeks, was, apparently, on the 20th of April, renewed in 
heart. The first evangelical exercise that she had any know- 



DR. NETTLETON. 63 

ledge of, according to her own acconnt, was benevolence to 
her fellow men. She would that all men might be saved, 
even if she was lost. The divine law appeared to her holy, 
just and good. She felt submissive to the divine will — a dis- 
position to resign herself into the hands of God, feeling that 
the judge of all the earth would do right. She thus continued 
till Friday, the 22d, when returning from a religious meeting, 
she felt a love to God on account of the excellency of his 
character. She loved holiness for holiness' sake. She then 
hated sin, because in its own nature, it is odious. This was 
the first time that she had those consolations that the world 
cannot give nor take away. Here she dates her hope, and 
rejoices in God her Saviour." 

" B C , aged 20 years, having had frequent chi- 

dings of conscience at times for more than a year past, hopes 
that on the L4th of iVpril she was born of the Spirit, and that 
she is now reconciled to God. Christ appears to her alto- 
gether lovely, and the chiefest among ten thousand. Her first 
gracious exercises appeared to be, love to the brethren, love 
to God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She hates sin 
because it is exceeding sinful. She appears to have clear 
views of her own native depravity, and of the obstinacy of 
her will. She wonders at and adores the patience and long- 
suflfering of God, that she had not been long ago consigned to 
everlasting despair." 

" N L , aged 14 years, after sundry weeks of op- 
position of heart to all moral good, and hating the truth, and 
avoiding all good people, was made to yield up her willful per- 
verseness of heart to God, and to submit to the terms of the 
gospel. The first exercise of her mind was that of love to 
all good people." 

"R C , aged 20, having experienced distressing 

convictions of sin, with an uncommon load on her heart, and 
with a high sense of the malignant nature of sin, experienced, 
as she believed, divine consolations, on the evening of the 



64 M E M O I R O F 

i5th of April. It was while returning home from a confer- 
ence, that the bm*den of sin was removed, as she hoped, and 
the love of God was shed abroad in her soul. She retired to 
her chamber, and took her Bible, and opened it at the 103d 
Psalm, and read, ' Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is 
within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
and forget not all his benefits, 4"C.' She poured out her soul 
to God, in gratitude and praise. She perseveres in her 
grateful remembrance of the goodness of God, and hopes 
that she shall live to his honor and glory the remainder of 
her life." 

" J S -, aged 37 years, was naturally a passionate 

man. He lived in open sin and profaneness, from his youth. 
He hated to read the Bible, and to attend meeting on the Sab- 
bath. He hated to hear religious conversation, and avoided 
religious instruction. He was of an independent spirit, and 
impiously heaven-daring. Yet the religious instruction he 
had received from his mother, could not be wholly effaced 
from his memory. He often had chidings of conscience, and 
was often filled with remorse ; but to drive all this from his 
mind, he Avould throw himself into vain, sensual and dissipated 
company. He never offered a prayer in his family. His 
mouth was often filled with profane oaths, and the most im- 
pious imprecations on himself. His torments of mind increas- 
ing upon him, he resolved to put an end to his dreadfully 
profane and wicked life. He accordingly procured a large 
dose of arsenic, and laid it up for that purpose. In the mean 
time, he had a dreadful struggle in his mind. His purpose, he 
thought, must be put in execution, and it seemed to him that 
the torments of a future world for sin, could not exceed the 
pain of mind which he felt. In this dreadful struggle, the pride 
of his heart was subdued, and he was made to bow at the 
footstool of sovereign grace on the 10th day of March. Traits 
of humility, self-abasement, and abhorrence of sin, in no man 
appear more conspicuous. He admires, and adores, that such 



D R . N E T T L E T O N . 65 

an awful, heaven-daring, and heaven-despising wretch, should 
be plucked as a brand out of the fire. He is altogether sub- 
missive, and his life is a life of prayer." 

" L W , aged 12 years, on the 10th day 

of May was hopefully delivered from the thraldom of sin and 
satan. She experienced a smgular conflict and conviction of 
sin for about a week. Her distress was seemingly too great 
to be long endured. Her cry was, ' Oh, what a dreadful hard 
heart.' ' Oh, it seems as if I was in hell.' Her conflict wore 
upon her bodily frame like a violent attack of fever. In this 
youth it was clearly manifested, that when the Holy Ghost, 
the comforter, is come, he will convince the world of sin, of 
righteousness, and of judgment. A person who had experien- 
ced a change of heart, and who had seen this child through all 
her trials and conflicts, would be led to conclude that the 
change in her is a real one. She possessed less guile than 
those of maturer years. There was no dissembling. And 
when grace was planted in her soul, she did not seem to know 
it. The first eflect that it produced, was a calm serenity of 
mind. She did not know why she felt so. She continued so 
for some hours, not knowing but her dreadful distress would 
return upon her. She took her Bible and perused it, which 
the day before she perfectly hated, because looking into it 
increased her torments. This calm serenity appeared in the 
morning when she arose. She thus continued till towards 
noon, when she informed me that wshe loved God — that the 
Bible was a new book to her — that she loved to read it — that 
the world did not appear to her as it did before — that all was 
new. She took me by the hand, and said, she loved me, and 
loved all God's creatures because God made them. She said 
she knew that she was a great sinner. She wondered how 
she could so willfully oppose God so long. God was right and 
reasonable, and she was altogether wrong in being so stubborn 
and perverse. She said she w^as willing to submit herself 
into the hands of God, for God would do right with her. She 



66 MEMOIR OF 

knew that it would be just if God should send her to hell. 
Here, submission seemed to be her first evangelical exercise, 
and then, love to the brethren." 

" Widow A C , aged 50, fixes on the 3rd day of 

May as the time when she hopes that her heart was renewed 
by the spirit of grace. She had long before entertained a 
hope, founded on her good works. She had never before be- 
lieved in total depravity. She believed that to live uprightly, 
and deal fairly and honestly with mankind, was sufficient to 
entitle her to salvation. But at this time, she found that her 
former hopes were nothing, and that her righteousness was 
but filthy rags. She now feels that all her hope is in Christ. 
She is full in her belief of all the great doctrines of grace. 
She places her confidence in God through Christ, relying on 
the promises." 

" Widow S H 5 aged 70 years, after having lived to 

the common age of man, without the fear of God before her 
eyes, was at this period of life, hopefully brought out of dark- 
ness into God's marvelous light. She was of French de- 
scent, and came into this State at the age of 12 years. She 
never was taught to read or write. She married at the age 
of 20 years, a man of the world, a stranger to common mo- 
rality. She is the mother of four children, who grew up 
without any religious instruction. But this aged woman now 
gives evidence of a change of heart, even at the last part of 
the eleventh hour. She appears to rejoice exceedingly in the 
wonderful display of God's benevolence in the ingathering of 
his elect. Her last days appear to be emphatically her best 
days, and her last comforts, the sweetest comforts of her 
life." 

" F E , aged 20 years, after quarreling with the 

doctrines of grace, and having heart-risings against the divine 
sovereignty and the doctrine of God's electing grace, hopes, 
that sometime in the latter part of June, his stubborn heart 
was subdued. He still continues resigned and submissive, 



DR. NETTLETON. 67 

and appears to enjoy the consolations of religion. But he re- 
joices with fear and trembling, lest his heart should deceiA^e 
him." 

" S W , aged 26 years, hopes that he is reconciled 

to God and his law. His heart has been much opposed to 
the great doctrines of grace ; but now, he says, things appear 
right and reasonable. These views of divine things, have 
happened to him since the revival commenced, in March, but 
he cannot tell the time, when the change took place. But he 
can say, ' whereas I was once blind, now I see.'*' 

" J- B , son of E B , aged nearly 13 years. 

On the last Sabbath in May, or the first Sabbath in June, 
his mother went to meeting, and charged him and her other 
child to be good children, and not to play, but read their books. 
His father went to a distant field to see about his cattle. Be- 
fore noon, this / v\^as smitten with deep conviction of 

sin. He continued in a distressed state about 24 hours, with- 
out food or sleep. His mind seemed to be overwhelmed with 
a sense of the dreadful nature of sin, as committed against 
God. Something happened to him at the end of 24 hours, 
which caused him to wipe away his tears, to wash himself, 
and cheerfully to partake of some food. It is nov/ about two 
months since this happened. He has been, from that time to 
this, remarkably calm and serene in his mind. He answers 
questions rationally — says that he loves God and hates sin. 
He fails not of his daily devotions and reading the Bible, and 
has altogether a change of deportment. He appears to have 
a sense of the evil nature of sin. The duties of the Sabbath 
and the sanctuary, appear to be his delight. It is apparent 
to all who know this youth, that a great change has taken 
place in him. From being passionate, petulant, perverse, and 
stubborn, he is now humble, meek, patient, forbearing, and 
forgiving." 

These few instances, taken from many similar to them, re= 
corded in this narrative, will serve to give the reader some 



68 MEMOIR OF 

idea of the character, not only of this revival, but of the re- 
\dvals generally, thirty years ago. The subjects of this revi- 
val so far as I have been able to learn, with few exceptions, 
continued to adorn the christian profession. 

Sometime in the spring of 1814, Mr. Nettleton left South 
Farms,- and repaired to North Killingworth, greatly exhausted 
by his labors, and intending to rest for a season. At this time 
the people of Chester, a neighboring parish, were destitute 
of a minister ; their pastor, the Rev, Mr. Mills, having died a 
short time before. It being known in Chester, that Mr. Net- 
tleton was at home, application was made to him to attend a 
funeral in that place. He at first declined, assigning as the 
reason, that he was greatly exhausted by his labors and needed 
rest. The man who came after him, as he turned to go away, 
burst into tears. This so affected Mr. Nettleton, that he con- 
cluded to go. He attended the funeral, and at the close of 
it, he gave notice that he would meet the young people in the 
evening, at the house of their late pastor. A large number 
assembled, and the meeting was very solemn. Such were 
the indications of the special presence of God among the 
people, that he was induced, notwithstanding the state of his 
health, to continue with them a considerable time, and had 
the satisfaction to witness a very interesting work of divine 
grace. 

In the autumn of 1814, Mr. Nettleton commenced his 
labors in East Granby, This was a waste place. The 
moral condition of the people was exceedingly deplorable. 
But God saw fit to turn again the captivity of Zion. Under 
Mr. Nettleton's preaching, there was a very interesting revival 
of religion. He preached here till some time in the winter, 
when he was obliged to suspend his labors for several months, 
by hemorrhage from the lungs. The Rev. J. B. Clark, the 
present pastor of the church in East Granby, in a letter dated 
Nov. 17, 1843, thus speaks of the effects of Mr. Nettleton's 
labors in that place. 



DR.NETTLETON. 69 

" Most of these who were connected with the church, as 
the result of that re\dval, have worn remarkably w^ell, so far 
as is or can be known. ?Jany of them have been, and are 
still, bright and shining lights in the church of Christ. One 
of the subjects, Miss C. Thrall, died as a missionary among 
the western Indians. 

" The efiect of that revival upon the church, and upon the 
community, was most happy and lasting. 

" The interest of Christ's kingdom had suffered much from 
an erroneous ministry. The church lost all spirituality and 
fervency. The community were buried in sinful indifference. 
"When Mr. Nettleton came among them, stupidity and sloth- 
fulness prevailed among all classes and all ages. The effect 
of his entrance to the place, was electric. The schoolhouse, 
and private rooms, were filled with trembling worshipers. 
A solemnity and seriousness pervaded the community, which 
had not been experienced for years before. There was no 
bustle — no array of means. All was orderly, quiet, and scrip- 
tural. There seems to have been an increasing solemnity, 
while the work continued. 

" I am told that his sermons were in a high degree, practi- 
cal. Doctrinal sermons were frequent, but these had a prac- 
tical turn. Thfey were eminently scriptural, and plain, and 
made men feel that they were the men addressed, and not 
their neighbors. He sometimes preached on the severer doc- 
trines with great power and apparent good effect. At this 
day we can hardly imagine the effect which his visit had upon 
this w^aste place. This seems to have been Satan's chief 
seat. Infidelity had been infused into the very bosom of the 
church. Of course sin in every form abounded. 

" There were no spiritual hymn-books in use, till Mr. Net- 
tleton labored here ; and then those hymns, in his hands, be- 
came most solemn sermons. 

Mr. Nettleton is remembered with much interest, and pecu- 
liar affection by most of those advanced in Hfe. When I 



70 MEMOIR OF 

have been speaking of him in my pastoral visits, the most in 
tense interest is excited. From many expressions used as the 
old people speak of him, one may know that his labors are 
still remembered with affection." 

Early in the spring of 1815, Mr. Nettleton having «o far 
recovered from his illness as to be able to preach, labored for 
a season in Bolton, with signal success. Here the people 
gave him a call to settle as their pastor, which he immediately 
declined, and recommended to them his friend and classmate, 
the Rev. Philander Parmele. Mr. Parmele was installed 
Nov. 8, 1815. 

From Bolton, he went to Manchester, to assist the Rev. 
Mr. Cook, whose people were enjoying a time of " refreshing 
from the presence of the Lord," By a divine blessing on his 
labors, the work was greatly promoted and extended. 

After this, he spent a few weeks in Granby, (west parish,) 
where his preaching was crowned with very signal suecess. 
Peculiar circumstances prevented him from continuing long 
with this people ; but there is reason to believe that many 
souls were savingly benefited by his labors. There were but 
few places in which he labored, where so much apparent 
good was effected in so short a time. 

Of the revivals mentioned in this chapter, excepting the 
one in South Britain, no account was published at the time ; 
and with the exception of that and the one in South Farms, 
so far as is now known, no particular account was ever writ- 
ten. As Mr. Nettleton kept no journal of his labors at that 
period, it is impossible at this late day, to give any more than 
a very general account of most of these revivals. Some of 
the facts which I have mentioned, fell under my own observa- 
tion, and some of them were obtained in private conversation 
from Mr. Nettleton himself. 



CHAPTER V. 

His labors in New Haven, Salisbury, Bridgewater, Torrington, Waterbury, Upper 
Middletown, Rocky Hill, Ashford, Eastford and Bolton. 

In the spring of 1815, at the request of the pastors of the 
Congregational churches in New Haven, Mr. Nettleton re- 
paired to that city. Soon after his arrival, he was invited to 
visit the school of young ladies, taught by the Rev. Mr. Her- 
rick. He gave them some account of the revivals in Litchfield 
county, and particularly, of the revival in Mrs. Pierce's school 
in Litchiield. Many of the scholars were deeply affected by 
this account, and in the course of a few days a large propor- 
tion of the members of the school, were anxiously enquiring 
what they must do to be saved. The seriousness spread, and 
a great and glorious work of divine grace was witnessed in 
the city, and to some extent in Yale College. Mr. Nettleton 
continued to labor in New Haven two or three months to the 
great satisfaction of his brethren there, and w^ith the same 
success which had crowned his labors in country parishes. 

In the summer of 1815, he visited Salisbury, a town in^the 
north part of Litchfield county. In this town was one of the 
most remarkable revivals which ever occurred under his 
preaching. No account of it was ever published. In a letter 
written by him in 1827, to the Rev. John Frost,, there is the 
following brief notice of it. 

"In 1815, in the town of Salisbury, Conn., after laboring 
awhile under great discouragement, there were some favor- 
able appearances, A number were anxious, and a few in 



72 MEMOIR OF 

awful distress of soul, in one village. It was taken hold of 
by some ignorant, officious hands ; and they were set to groan- 
ing and screaming, and alarmed all the village in my absence. 
Having heard the tidings, 1 hastened to the spot, and with 
kind, but decided severity called them to order. My attempts, 
by those who had given the Avork that turn, were considered 
as very obtrusive and daring. It was reported all over town, 
that a revival had begun in Salisbury, and that I had put a stop 
to it. They seemed to be very much grieved and shocked at 
my conduct. It took a number of days to restore order, but 
when it was done, the w^ork of God advanced silently and 
powerfully, until all classes, old and young, were moved all 
over town. The language was, ' the fountains of the great 
deep are broken up.' Not far from three hundred were num- 
bered as the hopeful subjects of divine grace in that revival." 

The Rev. Jonathan Lee, who is a native of Salisbury, and 
who at present resides there, has furnished the following brief 
account of this revival. 

" The first and greatest revival of religion which has taken 
place in Salisbury, Conn., stood connected with the labors of 
Mr. Nettleton, and began in the summer of 1815, and exten- 
ded through the autumn and winter following. The church 
was destitute of a pastor, and reduced to a small number, 
there being but seventeen male members. Having been unsuc- 
cessful in their efforts to obtain a pastor, and seeing no acces- 
sions, the few members remaining, felt a deep conviction of 
the necessity of the effusions of the Spirit, to strengthen the 
things that were ready to die ; and an unusual spirit of prayer 
was felt, as they sought the blessing at the throne of grace. 
In these circumstances, they applied to Mr. Nettleton to come 
and labor among them. After they had waited with doubt and 
solicitude for sometime, he at length came, without previously 
having sent any promise, or notice ; and, as was ascertained, 
without informing the friends with whom he had been, what 
was his place of destination. He arrived at the house of one 



DR.NETTLETON. 73 

of the deacons of the church and lodged. He made such 
inquiries, as were designed to ascertain whether his coming 
had been much looked for and relied upon, in order to a revival 
of religion. For some cause his fears were excited, perhaps 
from the fact, that deacon S. had that day been riding in 
unsuccessful pursuit of him ; and he at once declined staying 
or making any effort, saying, ' I can do no good here.' En- 
deavors were made to convince him, that he had not been the 
object of reliance, and to persuade him to stay till the follow- 
ing Sabbath, and preach and take opportunity to get acquaint- 
ed with the state of christian feeling. YieldintT for the 
present to the importunity, he prayed and conversed with the 
family, the laborers being called in for the purpose from the 
field, and offered to meet at the same place, at a particular 
hour, on the next day, any young people, who, when invited 
by the deacon, should be disposed to come in. He next visited 
the other deacon and pursued the same course and at his 
second visit, met with a company of young persons at each 
place. He began talking to them in the most simple and 
solemn manner, with the view to fix upon their minds some 
plain important truth, suited to awaken and impress the con- 
science. There was no dilation of thought but one weighty 
idea, such as the worth of the soul, or the necessity of true 
religion, dwelt upon and reiterated, and left in its naked reality 
and solemnity on each individual's mind. This noiseless 
commencement of his labors, was followed by visiting the 
families of christian professors, and by stated religious meet- 
ings in connection with the labors of the Sabbath. A primary 
object was to find the state of feeling in christians, and to 
promote a humble, praying spirit. At an early date, after being 
convinced of his duty to stay and labor, he called together the 
church, and with gi-eat earnestness, besought them to lay aside 
all expectations from him, and pray with humility and fervency, 
that the work of the Lord might be revived. At the same 
time, he gave such counsels and cautions, particularly with 
7 



74 MEMOiPw or 

regard to the instruction and treatment of persons under con- 
viction, as he judged necessary to guard against unhappy 
results. 

" This favored servant of Christ, came with no trumpet 
sounded before him, but in the meekness of his master, and 
the Lord was with him in very deed. Meetings became 
crowded and deeply solemn, and many obtained hope in Christ. 
He conversed individually with the anxious, and met at certain 
times at his boarding place, all who were disposed to be con- 
versed with, on the state of the heart, and the salvation of the 
soul. In addressing meetings, he was wont to seize on some 
point of interest, bearing directly upon the state of mind in 
which his hearers w^ere, and then press it with a rare degree 
of directness, plainness and force. 

" Without attempting further details, I feel assured, (though 
absent, and closely occupied in a revival among the people of 
my charge.) that this revival was distinguished for its stillness 
and solemnity, for deep conviction of conscience, for discrim- 
inating views of divine truth, for humility and subsequent sta- 
bility of christian character. The subjects were of different 
ages, but generally youth. As fruits of the revival about two 
hundred v/ere admitted into the Congregational church, besides 
several who united with other churches. Many of these 
young professors intermarried, and became heads of families, 
and have lived to train up many children for Christ. Not a 
few, in the twenty-seven years since elapsed, have died in the 
liOrd. Those remaining, still constitute the strength of the 
church ; for although some other favored seasons of ingath- 
ering have been enjoyed, none have borne comparison with 
this, for permanent influence upon the state of the community, 
for enlightened piety, and steadfastness of christian principle 
and character. Many still look back to that date v/ith the 
deepest interest, and liveliest gratitude, as the blest period of 
their espousal to Christ — as the memorable year of the right 
hand of the Lord. The name of Asahel Nettleton, the humble, 



DR.. XETTLETON. 75 

skillful laborer in this field., at that season, employed in direct- 
ing so many to Christ, is embalmed in many a heart. It stands 
associated with their dearest hopes, and purest joys, and Vvdli 
call forth praises never ending to the chief shepherd, who 
employed him in leading so many of this flock into his spiritual 
fold, to stand at his right hand at the great decisive day, to the 
praise of his ov\^n unfathomable grace." 

I will add a few facts, which were learned directly from Mr. 
Nettieton. 

In the commencement of this revival, much opposition w'as 
manifested on the part of the enemies of religion. But God 
overruled it to the furtherance of the gospel. As the people 
assembled one evening at a larnfe school-house in w^hich thev 
had been accustomed to meet, it was found that all the seats 
had been removed from the house and concealed. A large 
congregation having assembled in and around the house, Mr. 
Nettieton observed to them, that he had believed that the Spirit 
of God was operating on the minds of the people, and that he 
was now confirmed in the belief. The people then repaired to 
the meeting-house, where the religious services were conducted 
with most evident tokens of the divine presence. The work, 
though still, vras very deep and powerful, and it spread into 
every part of the town. It at first prevailed mostly among the 
youth, but it soon began to appear among heads of families, 
and some who were quite advanced in life, were numbered 
among the subjects. The conversion of a man from fifty to 
sixty years of age, who had been a violent opposer, seemed to 
be the means of arresting the attention of many. This indi- 
vidual was a man of considerable influence, and like Paul, 
before his conversion, was exceedingly mad against the church. 
But God, as there is reason to believe, subdued his heart, and 
he became as ardent in his attachment to the cause of Chi'ist, 
as he had been violent in his opposition. " What a glorious 
work of grace is this in Salisbury-," said he one morning, to 
Mr. Nettieton : " I hope that all my family, and all the people 



76 MEMOIR OF 

of the town will become interested in it, even if I am cast off 
forever." This w^as the first manifestation of a change in his 
feelings. The change in him was so striking, that many who 
had been skeptical were convinced that it must be the work of 
God. He took every opportunity to converse with his acquain- 
tance, and to recommend to them the religion, which he had 
formerly despised, and God made him the instrument in awak- 
ening many to a sense of their lost condition as sinners. 

The interest became so intense in every part of the town, 
that whenever Mr. Nettleton was seen to enter a house, almost 
the whole neighborhood would immediately assemble to hear 
from his lips the word of life. Husbandmen would leave their 
fields, mechanics their shops, and females their domestic con- 
cerns, to inquire the way to eternal life. Religion was the 
great and all-absorbing theme in almost all companies, and on 
almost all occasions. Mr. Nettleton labored in Salisbury 
through the winter. 

In the spring of 1816, he commenced his labors in Bridge- 
water. This is a parish in the town of New Milford, in the 
south-western part of Litchfield county. Here was a small 
church destitute of a pastor. The state of religion was very 
low. Unhappy dissensions existed in the church, and great 
stupidity prevailed among the people at large. Soon after he 
commenced his labors, there seemed to be a solemn attention 
to the word preached, but no cases of deep conviction of sin. 
He soon became convinced that there could be but little hope 
of a revival of religion, until a better state of feeling prevailed 
in the church. He endeavored to impress upon the minds of 
the brethren, the importance of settling their difficulties, and 
of uniting their prayers and their efforts for the promotion of 
Christ's kingdom. But his exhortations seemed to have but 
little effect, and perceiving that they had no proper sense of 
their dependence on God, but were placing undue reliance on 
him, he thought it best to withdraw. Accordingly, without 
the knowledge of any but the family iji which, he boarded, he 



DR. NETTLETON. 77 

suddenly left the place. The next day was the annual State 
Fast. The people assembled, expecting to hear him preach ; 
when to their astonishment, they found the pulpit vacant. 
The disappointment was great, but it produced the intended 
effect. The members of the church were deeply affected. 
They spent the day in prayer and mutual confession of sin. 
All their difficulties were healed, and brotherly love was re- 
stored. It was with them a day of deep repentance and humil- 
iation before God. Numbers of the youth, whose minds had 
been somewhat impressed by Mr. Nettleton's preaching, when 
they found that he had left them, were brought into great dis^ 
tress of mind. Meanwhile he was spending the day, with a 
brother in the ministry in a neighboring town. On the Sat- 
urday following, he proposed to this brother, to go and spend 
the Sabbath in Bridgewater, and permit him to supply his 
pulpit. The arrangement was accordingly made. This 
brother found a most interesting state of things. A deep sol- 
emnity pervaded the congregation, and quite a number were 
found anxiously inquiring Vv^hat they must do to be saved.' 
When Mr. Nettleton learned the state of things, he returned 
to Bridgewater, and labored there with great success for sev- 
eral months. 

In this revival there was one case of peculiar interest. Mr. 
C. Avas a most violent opposer of religion. He had not been 
seen in the house of God for many years. He went one 
evening to hear Mr. Nettleton in a school-house, but being 
ashamed to be seen, he stopped at the door. While standing 
in this situation, an arrow from the Almighty's quiver pierced 
his heart. He went away with a troubled spirit. He was 
convinced that he was a sinner, and exposed to the wrath of 
heaven. But he resisted the conviction, and endeavored to 
banish the subject from his mind. It was however impossi- 
ble. The thought was impressed upon his mind, as he after- 
wards confessed, " You must repent — you must pray, or you 
will perish." His heart replied, " / pray ! — no, never. I'll 
7* 



78 M E M I R O F 

perish first." Thus he struggled till his distress became intol- 
erable. He was one night in such horror of mind, that it 
seemed to him that he could not live till morning. The scene 
was awfully solemn. To see this bold blasphemer, bewailing 
his sinfulness and crying for mercy, in distress and anguish 
which seemed too great for human nature to sustain, was a 
most affecting sight. The next day he obtained peace, and 
seemed to be in a new world. This man became a preacher 
of righteousness to his former associates. On the next Sab- 
bath morning he was seen on the steps of the church conver- 
sing with deep interest on the subject of religion, and recom- 
mending to his fellow sinners that Saviour, whom he had 
found so precious to his soul. Such was the change in this 
individual, that it extorted the confession from the mouths of 
gainsayers, that it must be the finger of God. He could say 
with truth, 

" Great is the work, my neighbors cried, 
And owned thy power divine , 
Great is the work, my heart replied, 
And be the glory thine." 

This striking displayof divine grace was made instrumental 
of promoting and extending the work. 

Since the publication of the first edition of this work, the 
following facts have been communicated by the Rev. Fosdic 
Harrison, of Bethlem, who was, at the time, pastor of the 
church in Roxbury, a town adjoining Bridgewater. 

" In the spring of 1816, when Mr. Nettleton was laboring 
at Bridgewater, he was frequently at my house. On one oc- 
casion, having been with me a day or two, I was expecting his 
assistance at an evening meeting ; but a short time before the 
hour of meeting, he manifested his intention to return to Bridge- 
water. I urged him to stay and attend the meeting, but he 
still declined. We went together from the study into Mrs. 
Harrison's room. She was then in feeble health. On learn- 
ing his determination to leave, she most earnestly entreated 



DR. NETTLETON. 79 

him to remain. Among other things she said, ' Do stay, Mr. 
Nettleton, I am unable to attend the meeting myself, but if you 
will stay, I will pray for you all the time.' We went out 
together, and he left, but her earnest entreaties went wdthhim, 
and troubled him. Soon after this, he heard she was danger- 
ously ill. He came directly over and said, ' Brother, learning 
that you was in deep affliction, I have come to pray with you. 
We retired and bowed down together before God. Some of 
his earnest petitions I still remember, commencing thus — ' Oh, 
Lord Jesus, she, whom thou lovest, is sick.' Soon after this, 
he came to attend her funeral. He remembered his refusal 
to yield to her importunate solicitations to attend the meeting ; 
and that he might comply with her entreaties as far as he then 
could, he requested that a meeting might be appointed for that 
evening at the house where she died. While the other breth- 
ren went from the funeral to a monthly meeting of ministers 
in New xMilford, and urged him to go with them, he remained 
and attended the meeting in Roxbury. The last conversation 
he had with Mrs. Harrison, the solicitude she manifested in 
the spiritual welfare of the people, her promise to pray for 
him and them, were the theme of his discourse. He remind- 
ed the people that her prayers for them were ended. His 
appeals were powerful. Impressions were made, w^iich, I 
trust, resulted in the saving conversion of some souls. He 
remained with me a day or two, and his counsels and prayers 
were truly refresliing." 

In the summer of 1816, Mr. Nettleton spent some time in 
Torrington, assisting the Rev. Mr. Gillet. There was some 
special seriousness among the people, previous to his arrival : 
but it greatly increased afterwards. He remained in Tor- 
rington about three months. His labors were highly appre- 
ciated by the pastor and members of the church, and were 
manifestly attended by a divine blessing. The Rev. John A. 
McKinstry, present pastor of the church, in a letter dated June 
12,1844, says, "How long the revival continued, I cannot 



go MEMOIR OF 

definitely state. At the communion in November, the first 
fruits were gathered into the church ; and in the January fol- 
lowing, several more were added. The number that joined 
at these seasons, was about fifty. Others were added at sub- 
sequent seasons, but the precise number I cannot state. It is 
reported, however, by those acquainted, that the number of 
hopeful conversions v/as about seventy. 

" In regard to the revival, I may say, it extended through 
the parish, and was quite powerful. Even at this period, 
when first impressions have gone, the revival of 181 6 is called 
the revival in Torrington, there having been none since of 
equal extent and power. The subjects of that work, with few 
exceptions, have adorned their profession, and some of them 
have been, and still are, pillars in the church. The influence 
of this revival upon the church, and upon the community, was 
in a high degree salutary. 

" The w^ork was solemn, and the truths presented plain and 
searching. The true character and condition of the sinner 
was clearly set before him, and he was shown that his only 
hope was in the sovereign mercy of God through a crucified 
Saviour. 

" The measures adopted, were such as were common in 
this region at that time ; such as the ministry of the word on 
the Sabbath — frequent visitation, connected with personal 
conversation on the subject of religion ; and more or less 
prayer meetings during the week. In personal conversation, 
Mr. Nettleton is said to have abounded, and many attributed 
their religious impressions to the truth presented at such 
times." 

From Torrington Mr. Nettleton went to Waterbury, a town 
in the north part of New Haven county. Here a revival had 
already commenced. There is an account of this revival in 
the second volume of the Religious Intelligencer, from which 
I make the following extract. 

"Towards the close of the summer (1816) it was the will 



DR. NETTLETON. 81 

of God that our pastor should be laid on a bed of sickness, and 
for some time, little hopes were entertained of his recovery. 
He was however spared, and his health so far restored, as to 
enable him to commence preaching towards the close of the 
succeeding winter ; and though still feeble, we enjoyed his 
labors with some interruption, till sometime in June follow- 
ing, when he was obliged to desist, fj-om returning and increas- 
ing debility. 

" Thus it pleased the Great Head of the church, to depriv^e 
us of the services of our teacher, at a time when, to human 
appearance, they seemed to be most needed. In the mean 
time, whatever impressions were made by former meetings, 
or whatever serious effects might be expected to arise from 
the heavy judgments with which v/e, as a people had been 
visited,* they appeared to be lost upon us. 

" Vice, immorality and irreligion, appeared to gain additional 
strength, and the cloud that overshadowed us in a moral point 
of view, appeared fraught with tenfold darkness. 

" But in the midst of all these scenes of discouragement, 
this day of trouble, rebuke and blasphemy, God's children did 
not despair. They stayed themselves on the God of Jacob ; 
and while waiting for an answer to their prayers, knew that he 
had also said, ' fear not little flock, it is your Father's good 
pleasure to give you the kingdom.' 

'• He was about to appear to build up the waste places of 
Zion, and in such a wgy as to convince us, that the work was 
His, and that the glory alone was due to him. He hath said, 
' mine honor is mine own, and my glory I will not give to 
another.' ' I will work, and who shall let it ? ' 

" In the month of February, a small society of young ladies 
commenced a weekly meeting for the purpose of reading the 
scriptures and religious conversation, and one or two soon 
became hopefully pious. 

* A mortal sickness in the spring and summer of 1815. 



82 MEMOIR OF 

" On the 7th of April, 1816, our hearts were cheered by 
seeing four young persons come out from the world, unite with 
the church, own Christ before men, and covenant to walk with 
him in newness of spirit. 

" About the forepart of May, one general spirit of zeal ap- 
peared to actuate a great proportion of the church. The spirit 
of grace and supplication appeared to be poured upon them. 
A concert of prayer for the revival of God's work in this place 
was agreed on, in which all the members were to be engaged 
in secret between the hours of eight and nine o'clock on Sat- 
urday evening. The monthly prayer meetings for the success 
of missions, began to be more generally attended, and became 
more deeply interesting. 

" A serious and solemn attention on the Sabbath, now ap- 
peared to pervade the whole assembly ; and though sometimes 
deprived of the regular administration of the word, our meet- 
ings were interesting and instructive. 

Sometime in the latter part of June, it had been stated to the 

writer of this, that a Mr. , (who had formerly been an 

open opposer of vital religion,) and some few others, had man- 
ifested a desire to commence a weekly meeting for religious 
conversation and prayer. He accordingly called on one or 
two of the persons named, and a meeting consisting of four 
only was held on Sabbath evening. 

" In this meeting, the person alluded to above, declared what 
God had done for his soul — mourned Over his past conduct, 
and expressed his determination to devote himself to the ser- 
vice of God in future. 

" The meeting was opened and closed with prayer. A 
stated meeting was agreed on. The next evening, about 
twelve attended. Information began now to get abroad, and 
on the third evening about sixty were present. On the fourth 
evening, so great was the crowd that attended, they could not 
all be accommodated, though the house was large and conve- 



DR. NETTLETON, 83 

nient ; and it became necessary after this, to hold them at the 
meeting house. 

" This, I think, may be fairly stated as the first visible com- 
mencement of the work. 

" Numbers now appeared to be under deep conviction in 
almost every part of the society. The Rev. Mr. Beecher, of 
Litchfield, and the Rev. Mr. Nettleton, (at that time preaching 
at Torrington,) were present on the next Lord's day ; and at 
a meeting appointed for the purpose on Monday morning, a 
considerable number appeared to ask the all-im.portant ques- 
tion, ' what must I do to be saved ? ' Mr. Nettleton was with 
some difficulty prevailed upon to come and assist us in our 
then destitute situation, and returned here on the Saturday 
following. 

" From this time his labors became incessani, and his dil- 
igence unwearied. When not attending a public conference, 
the house was generally thronged by numbers who were anx- 
iously inquiring the way to Zion, and to whom he was ever 
ready to impart instruction. 

" Our worthy pastor, though unable to attend on public 
duties, had the cheering prospect of seeing the work of the 
Lord prospering among the people of his charge, and the fields 
ripening for a rich harvest of souls to be gathered into Christ's 
spiritual kingdom. The work had now become very exten- 
sive and powerful ; and one remarkable characteristic feature 
was, it seemed to attack and subdue the very champions of 
infidelity the first, and to operate in such a way as to silence 
the most daring opposers. 

" In some instances, one or two of a family seemed to be 
taken, and the others left. But in many, almost whole fam- 
ilies, (or at least, all who had arrived at years of discretion,) 
were under deep conviction, and have since subscribed with 
their own right hands to be the Lord's, and surnamed them- 
selves by the God of Jacob." 

This work, in its general features, has been similar to what 



84 MEMOIR O F 

has been in other places. It has embraced all the variety of 
operations, from the still small voice, to the most powerful 
threatenings of a broken law, and the vindictive justice of a 
justly offended God ; and has embraced all ages, from youth 
to grey hairs ; though of the youth and middle aged, by far 
the greatest number have been brought to see their need of 
an interest in Christ, and led to embrace him as their only 
Saviour. 

" In the month of August, some of the first fruits of the 
revival, (together with some few who had entertained a hope 
before,) were gathered into the church. On this occasion, 
seventeen were added ; nine more in the month of October ; 
and on the first Sabbath in February, 1817, seventy-one pub- 
licly professed their faith in Christ, and took the vows of God 
upon them ; and seventeen received the ordinance of baptism. 
Twenty-one have united them.selves with the church at differ- 
ent times since, making one hundred and eighteen since the 
first of August, 1816; about one hundred and ten of whom 
may be considered as fruits of the revival. Many more re- 
main yet to be gathered in ; and so far as the writer of this 
has been able to discover, no instance of apostacy has yet 
appeared.* 

" The doctrines taught are those considered as the grand 
leading truths of the gospel, viz.: the strict spirituality of the 
m.oral law— the total depravity of the natural heart — its enmity 
to God — the necessity of regeneration by the spirit of his 
grace — an entire dependence on the merits of Jesus Christ 
for justification, pardon and acceptance — our obligations to 
own him before men, and to manifest our faith in him by a 
holy walk and conversation — the divine sovereignty — the 
electing love of God — and the final perseverance of the saints, 
as the only ground of the sinner's hope, and the anchor of 
the christian's soul." 

* This account was written in July, 1817. 



DR. NETTLETON. 85 

Mr. Nettleton continued his labors in Waterbury, amid 
scenes of thrilling interest, for several months. 

After he left Waterbury, he spent some time in Bolton, 
taking care of his friend, the Rev. Mr. Parmele, who was 
laboring under mental derangement, and supplying his pulpit. 

In the fall of 1817, he was requested to preach at Upper 
Middletown, for the Rev. Mr. Williams who was sick. There 
was no special seriousness in this place. On the contrary 
great spiritual apathy prevailed. The youth were exceedingly 
thoughtless, and addicted to vain amusements. Soon after he 
commenced his labors here, he became acquainted with a very 
intelligent young lady, who had long been seriously inclined, 
and who was thought by many to be truly pious. She handed 
him Marshall on sanctification, and said, " if I dared believe 
that book, I should think I v/as a christian." " I am glad," 
said Mr. Nettleton, " you dare not believe it." These words 
went to her heart. She immediately became exceedingly 
anxious, and was soon brought to rejoice in hope of the glory 
of God. 

After he had preached in this place two or three Sabbaths, 
there were some cases of special seriousness ; but under- 
standing that the young people had appointed a ball on the day 
after the annual Thanksgiving, he expressed the purpose of 
leaving the place. The young people, hearing of his purpose, 
concluded to give up their ball, and sent a committee to invite 
him to preach to them on that evening. He very readily accept- 
ed the invitation. The meeting was appointed in the Acad- 
emy. A large congregation of youth assembled. Some came 
from other towns. This meeting was one of thrilling interest. 
Some who had been previously awakened were brought to 
rejoice in hope, and great numbers were brought under deep 
and powerful conviction. God made the word " quick and 
powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to 
the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, the joints and 
the marrow." The scenes of that evening will be remem- 
8 



86 MEMOIR OF 

bered by not a few, while immortality endures. Several in 
deep distress followed Mr. Nettleton to his lodgings. He 
prayed with them, and with great difficulty persuaded them to 
retire to their homes. Many spent the night in crying for 
mercy, and several found peace before morning. From this 
time, the work became very powerful. Meetings of inquiry 
were held at the house of the pastor, but the place became 
too strait, and God provided one of greater convenience. A 
man who owned a large ball-room, and who had been a bitter 
enemy to religion, was awakened and hopefully brought to 
repentance. He opened his ball-room for meetings of inquiry. 

Mr. Nettleton labored in this place a number of months, 
and was made instrumental, as there is reason to believe, of 
the conversion of many souls. 

The Rev. Zebulon Crocker, the present pastor of the church, 
in a letter dated December 15th, 1843, speaking of the converts 
in this revival, says : 

" Among the males who are members of this church, there 
are several who have borne the burden and heat of the day, 
and borne it well. They have been pillars in the temple of 
our God, and are so still. There are others who have gone 
from us and united with churches abroad, whose names appear 
connected with the public charities of the day, and who are 
known to be bright and shining lights in the world. Similar 
remarks apply to the female members. Several have died in 
the faith. As a whole, I think I have evidence on which to 
affirm, that they have run well, and have received a good re- 
port." Speaking of the results of that revival, he says : 

"In the fall of 1817, the church was in a 'cold state' as 
some have expressed it. Religion, I am inclined to think, was 
at a low ebb. The blessed work of the Spirit which imme- 
diately succeeded, it is to me evident, changed very much the 
aspect of affairs for the better, as a permanent result. It gave 
moral courage and strength to the church. Some who had 
become members without piety, were hopefully converted. 



DR. NETTLE TON. 87 

Faith in regard to the efficacy of the gospel, was encouraged. 
Christians desired a renewal of the work, and w^ere prepared 
to labor and pray for another season of refreshing from the 
presence of the Lord. The way was prepared for the more 
frequent revivals with which the church has been blessed." 

During the revival in Upper Middletown, a few individuals 
from Rocky Hill, an adjoining parish, attended some of Mr. 
Nettleton's meetings, and became anxious for their souls. 
The seriousness spread, and at the earnest solicitation of the 
pastor, the Rev. Dr. Chapin, Mr. Nettleton visited that place. 
He arrived on Saturday, April 4th, 1818. 

" When he arrived," says Dr. Chapin, " there was a meet- 
ing in the house of the pastor. At the same place, in the 
evening, there was another — w^hich brother Nettleton atten- 
ded. His acquaintance with the state of the public mind 
among us, began that evening. From that time, during the 
greater part of several months, he was indefatigable, laboring 
in season, and out of season, to the full extent of his health 
and strength. In connection with impressions and experience 
realized in 1818, eighty-four persons became members of 
Christ's visible church. How many of them were brought to 
this performance of external duty by brother Nettleton's labors, 
we shall know hereafter. How many of their names, or 
whether all, will be found written in the Lamb's Book of Life, 
we shall see at the opening of that perfect book. During the 
almost twenty-six years that have fled, since the delightful 
and interesting events above mentioned, it appears that twenty- 
five of the eighty-four have gone the way of all the earth. 
Their departure was either while resident here, or in some 
distant location. Fifteen also of the same fourscore and four, 
have removed from us, and so far as we know, are yet living. 
So far as man can judge, those eighty-four have adorned the 
doctrine of God our Saviour, in a manner equal, at least, to 
the fruits of those other revivals, which Christ has permitted 
us to enjoy. 



88 M E M O I R O F 

" In an important sense, brother Nettleton's talent was one. 
In the cultivation and improvement of that one, he was unwea- 
ried. By the concentration of study, always directed to the 
most useful point, which is practical piety, that talent had risen 
to the first order. Hence the depth and exactness of his 
knowledge in trutj experience, and the things which are essen- 
tial to salvation. Hence too, the quickness of discernment 
relative to the specific instruction, and the manner of impart- 
ing instruction, that every mind needed with which he came 
in contact. 

" He had a quick and precise perception of the sources 
whence objectors and cavilers draw their difhcuhies. In re- 
plies, showing the true answer, and the only remedy, he was 
ready, appropriate, generally silencing, and not rarely con- 
vincing. 

" In the whole of his intercourse, he was exemplary. He 
was remarkably cautious of appearances. He would not 
expose himself or his cause to reproach, by giving so much as 
the least occasion for the surmises of evil. If Satan's follow- 
ers attempted the propagation of injurious reports, they were 
obliged to go far away from us for their foundation. The 
rumors thus procured, and put in motion, always, if investi- 
gated, proved to be false, and infernally malicious. Even the 
subtile vigilance of the evil Spirit, could find, in his conduct 
here, no foundation for its eagerly coveted slanders." 

In October, 1818, Mr. Nettleton commenced preaching in 
Ashford, a town in the eastern part of Connecticut. His 
labors soon began to be crowned with success. In his journal 
under date of Nov. 4, he mentions " One rejoicing." Nov. 
6, " Five or six rejoicing." Nov. 8, " Very full. Such a 
Sabbath is rarely seen." The work now became powerful, 
and made rapid progress. Mr. Nettleton labored in Ashford 
without intermission about two months, and preached there 
occasionally afterwards. Of the results of his labors, the 
reader will be able to form some opinion from the following 



DR.NETTLETON. 89 

extract of a letter from the Rev. Charles Hyde, the present 
pastor of the church, dated May 30th, 1844. 

" With respect to our departed brother's labors in this place, 
I know but little, except what I learn from the records of the 
church, and the recollections of some who were then living 
here. That he was remarkably wise, fervent, skillful, and 
successful, all bear testimony ; and all, especially those who 
v^-ere brought into the kingdom through his labors, cherish a 
most affectionate and grateful remembrance of him. His 
influence here was permanently good. It is felt at the pres- 
ent day. He commenced his labors here, in Oct., 1818. The 
first additions to the church were in March, when fifty-six 
were received. In May following, twelve, and in July ten, 
and in November four ; making in all eighty-two, of whom, I 
suppose, the greater part, if not all, were subjects of that re- 
vival. This is a very large number for so small a society. 

" Of the character of these converts, I cannot speak partic- 
ularly, except of those who are now here. Twenty-two have 
died. Twenty-seven have removed from the place. Three 
only have been excommunicated. The remainder, are, with 
hardly an exception, now consistent members — some of them 
pillars in the Church. Many of those Avho have left us, I am 
informed, continue to adorn their profession. Upon the whole, 
I think it must be admitted that the revival here under Dr. 
Nettleton's labors, was a remarkably pure one ; and happy is 
the church that receives such a blessing. Its influence goes 
down to succeeding generations." 

In the month of December, 1818, Mr. Xettleton commenced 
his labors in Eastford. Here was a small church, destitute of 
a pastor, and in a very depressed condition. The influence 
of their last minister, who became a universalist, was very 
disastrous to the cause of religion. He had been dismissed 
about four years, when Mr. Nettleton visited the place. 

" During this interval," says their present pastor, the Rev. 
Francis Williams, " they were supplied some part of the time 



90 MEMOIR OF 

by such preachers as they could obtain ; some part of the 
time, the deacons conducted meetings on the Sabbath, and a 
considerable portion of the time, they had no public worship. 

" During this state of things, the interests of religion greatly 
declined, and the light of the church was well nigh extin- 
guished. According to the most correct information which I 
can obtain, there were but about twenty members in the church, 
and only six male members. Most of these were persons 
advanced in life. At this critical period, Mr. Nettleton came 
among the people. A powerful work of grace immediately 
commenced, such as neither they, nor their fathers had seen. 
He preached the distinguishing doctrines of grace so point- 
edly, that persons have often informed me, they felt themselves 
in the hands and at the disposal of God. They felt that if 
they were ever saved from their dreadful depravity and Avretch- 
edness, it must be by sovereign grace. He made practical 
application of these doctrines to the heart and conscience in 
such a plain and forcible manner, that they felt that if they 
were lost, they should be without excuse. 

" The work was characterized by such stillness and power, 
that every one felt that the finger of God was in it. To re- 
peat a remark made by an observer at the time, ' it was so 
evidently the work of God that not a dog dared move his 
tongue.' I am not able to ascertain the number who indulged 
hope. I find by the church records that forty-eight united 
with the church by profession, March 28th, 1819, and in June 
following eleven more, making in all, fifty-nine by profession. 
Several were also added by letter. This in the then existing 
state of the church, was life from the dead. The church was 
soon after supplied with a faithful pastor, who labored here for 
more than twenty years ; and the church has been on the 
whole, prosperous. 

" Of those admitted to the church as fruits of this revival, 
fifteen have left this world, while the rest continue unto this 
present. Most of them have given pleasing evidence of piety. 



DP. .NETTLETON. 91 

No one acquainted with the facts, can doubt that the cause of 
Christ was greatly promoted by the labors of Mr. Nettleton. 
And perhaps so few evils seldom follow a gi-eat revival in any 
place. 

•' You ask, how is Mr. Nettleton regarded by the good peo- 
ple in Eastford ? They look up to him with the most ardent 
affection as a spiritual father. This may be ascertained by 
any one who will mention his name in their hearing. He 
will see indisputable proof of affectionate regard." 

In the month of April, 1819, Mr. Nettleton went to Bolton, 
where he remained two or three months, laboring with his 
friend, the Rev. Mr. Parmele. It appears from an account 
published by Mr. Parmele, in the Religious Intelligencer for 
November, 1820, that sometime previous to Mr. Nettleton's 
arrival, there had been an unusual spirit of prayer among the 
people of God. But God saw fit to try their faith. 

" While," says Mr. Parmele, " christians were thus daily 
wrestling in prayer, for the salvation of sinners, and were 
committing the cause of religion into the hands of God, their 
faith and patience were brought to the test. Satan, as though 
aware that his kingdom was soon to receive an attack, rallied 
his forces, and marshaled his bands to make resistance. In- 
iquity rushed in like a flood. The youth who, we expected, 
would be awakened, if our prayers were answered, were 
generally never more dissolute. Their minds were supremely 
occupied with scenes of mirth and parties of pleasure. If 
they received any impressions on the Sabbath, or at a reli- 
gious meeting during the week, they were soon banished 
through the influence of worldly companions and vain amuse- 
ments. 

" To counteract the influence of these things, in the month 
of April (about the time INIr. Nettleton commenced his labors 
in Bolton,) meetings were appointed for religious conver- 
sation with the youth, which were generally well attended, 
and soon became interesting. At one of these meetings, 



92 



MEMOIR OF 



eight or ten of the youth were alarmed with a sense of their 
sins. Their convictions deepened, until they became over- 
whelming; and within a few days they were brought to re- 
joice in hope. This spread conviction like an electric shock, 
through the society of young people, until it was evident that 
the Lord had appeared in his glory to build up Zion. The 
volatile youth could no longer resist the influences of the 
Holy Spirit; but in deep solemnity, were daily inquiring 
what they should do to be saved. Vain amusements were 
entirely suspended. Scenes of pleasure were forsaken ; and 
the trifles of time were lost in the awful concerns of eternity. 
No object could divert the anxious mind from inquiring the 
way to life. 

" The convictions of the subjects of this work, were deep, 
increased rapidly, and were of short continuance. Uncon- 
ditional submission was urged, as the only ground of accept- 
ance with God. And as soon as this was exercised, in most 
instances, the sinner was filled with joy. One expressed 
herself thus, ' I attempted to pray for mercy, while in my 
sins, but my conscience flashed conviction in my face. 
What ! will such a sinner as you attempt to pray ! You are 
so vile, your prayers will not be heard. I then felt the rea- 
sonableness of my condemnation so forcibly, that I took up on 
the side of justice, and pleaded the cause of God against 
myself. In this condition, I soon found relief.' 

" May and June, wiih. us, were interesting months. Most 
of the subjects of this revival, became reconciled to God, 
during this period. On the first Sabbath in July, thirty-five 
united with the church, nine of whom received the ordinance 
of baptism. This was a day so interesting, that the solemn 
scenes which transpired can never be forgotten. The youth, 
the middle aged, and the aged, composed this number. On 
the first Sabbath in September, twenty-one united with the 
church, and two have been added since, making in the whole, 
fifty-nine. Five living in families not connected with my 



DR. NE TTLE T ON. 93 

society, have united with the Baptist church. The subjects 
of this revival are of all ages, from twelve years old, to up- 
wards of sixty ; but by far the greater portion are youth. 

" We would express our gratitude to those brethren in the 
ministry, who occasionally preached for us, during this revi- 
val ; and especially to Mr. Nettleton, whose labors were sig- 
nally blessed. We trust the Lord will reward them for their 
labors of love. But we desire to look beyond all instruments, 
to the great first cause, and as a church and people, to ex- 
press our unfeigned gratitude to the Father of all mercies, for 
this work of his grace. This is the Lord's icork, and it is 
marvelous in our eyes ; and to his great name be ascribed the 
kingdom^ the power ^ and the glory forever. ^^ 



CHAPTER VI. 



Labors in Saratoga county and Nassau. 



In July, 1819, being very much exhausted by his labors in 
Connecticut, Mr. Nettleton repaired to Saratoga Springs for 
rest. He did not expect to preach in that region, as his sole 
object was to recruit his strength. After he had been there 
a short time, the Rev. Mr. Tucker, of Stillwater, (now the 
Rev. Dr. Tucker, of Providence, R. I.,) called to see him. 
In the course of their conversation, something was said re- 
specting waste places. This led Mr. Tucker to give him 
some account of Malta, a tow^n in that vicinity, which had 
long been a waste place, and in which there was no Presby- 
terian or Congregational church. This account awakened in 
Mr. Nettleton a desire to visit that place. Mr. Tucker kindly 
offered to accompany him, and introduce him to a Mr. Hunter, 
a professor of religion, and a very respectable and worthy 
man. They spent a night at his house, and attended a prayer 
meeting with a few neighbors who were invited in. Mr. 
Nettleton agreed to come again and pass a Sabbath with them, 
and accordingly, on the first day of August, 1819, he preached 
in their meeting house to a congregation of about fifty souls. 

On Monday, he returned to Saratoga, and at the request of 
the Rev. Mr. Griswold, attended the monthly concert in the 
evening. He shortly after, attended some other meetings, 
when it became apparent that the Spirit of God was operating 
upon the minds of the people. Mr. Nettleton confined his 



DR, NETTLETON. 95 

labors principally to Saratoga, occasionally preaching at 
Malta, till November. He llien labored most of the time in 
Malta, occasionally preaching in the neighboring towns, nntil 
the beginning of March, when he went to Schenectady, 
where he continued till near the close of April. The revival 
which began at Saratoga, spread intoAIalta, and thence into 
all the surrounding region, and into Union College. 

While Mr. Nettleton was at Schenectady, he wrote to a 
friend in Connecticut, and an extract of the letter was pub- 
lished in the fourth volume of the Religious Intelligencer, 
which I here insert. 

" I can at present, give you nothing more than the outlines 
of what the Lord is doing for this section of his church. 
This region, and especially the county of Saratoga, has here- 
tofore been as destitute of re^dvals of religion, as any part of 
this State. The commencement of this work was at Sara- 
toga Springs last summer. At that place, about forty have 
made a profession of religion. These include some of the 
most respectable characters in the village. Directly south, is 
the town of Malta. For a number of years, there has been 
no Presbyterian church in that place. But the year past, 
there has been a very interesting revival among that people. 
Our meetings have been crowded, and solemn as the house 
of death. A church has been recently organized, which now 
consists of one hundred and five members. You can hardly 
imagine the interest which this revival excited in the surround- 
ing region. Although the inhabitants are scattered over a large 
extent, yet I verily believe, I have seen more than fourteen 
hundred people assembled at once, to hear the gospel. On 
the east of Malta, is the town of Stillwater. Here, also, 
there has been a very powerful revival. Although there has 
been some excitement to serious things in this place in years 
past, yet this revival exceeds any they have ever before wit- 
nessed. On the 27th of February last, one hundred and 
three publicly presented themseh^es a living sacrifice unto the 



96 MEMOIROF 

Lord ; and about one hundred more are rejoicing in hope, and 
expect soon to follow their example. The work is still ad- 
vancing ; numbers are under conviction. In Ballston, adjoin- 
ing Malta on the west, the work has been very powerful. At 
their two last communions, they admitted one hundred and 
eighteen as the fruit of this revival, and the work is yet in- 
creasing. Directly north is the town of Milton. I visited 
that people Sabbath before last, and preached three times to 
a crowded and solemn assembly. In this place, a revival has 
just commenced. Twelve are rejoicing in hope, and a num- 
ber more are anxious for their souls. Eight miles to the 
north v/est, adjoining Milton, is the town of Galway. Here 
the work is overwhelming. In less than two months past, 
more than one hundred and fifty have been brought to rejoice 
in hope. Dr. Nott, from this college, visited them last Sab- 
bath, and admitted ninety-five to the church, and the work is 
still progressing. On the south of this, is Amsterdam. Here 
fifty have recently been led to rejoice in hope. Adjoining 
this, is a place called Tripe's Hill. Here thirty are rejoic- 
ing, and the work in both these places is increasing. South 
from Malta, about twelve miles, is the city of Schenectady, 
and Union College, where I now reside with Dr. McAuley. 
He takes a lively interest in this good work. 1 first became 
acquainted with him last summer at the Springs, and more 
particularly at Malta, where he frequently visited us, and 
preached, and conversed, and attended the meetings appoint- 
ed for those anxious for their souls. On a Sabbath, when a 
number were to be admitted to the church in Malta, he brought 
with him a number of students from the college. Some of 
them became anxious. About this time, one of the students 
w^as called into the eternal world. He was laid out in Dr. 
McAuley's study. The Dr. was anxious to improve this 
solemn providence to the best advantage. He assembled the 
students around the lifeless remains of their departed friend, 
and conversed and prayed with them in the most solemn man- 



DR. NETTLETON. 97 

ner. A number of them engaged to attend to the subject of 
religion in earnest. From that time, many of the students 
became deeply impressed with a sense of their lost condition. 
For them were appointed meetings of inquiry. And in this 
very room where they lately beheld the breathless corpse of 
their young companion, and where I am now v/riting, was 
witnessed a scene of deep and awful distress. About thirty 
of the students are brought to rejoice in hope. The revival 
is now very powerful in the city. Such a scene they never 
before witnessed. More than one hundred have been brought 
to rejoice in hope. Besides these, v/e had more than two 
hundred in our meeting of inquiry, anxious for their souls. 
We met in a large upper room called the Masonic Hall. The 
room was so crowded, that we were obliged to request all who 
had recently found relief, to retire below, and spend their time 
in prayer for those above. This evening will never be for- 
gotten. The scene is beyond description. Did you ever 
witness two hundred sinners, with one accord in one place, 
weeping for their sins. Until you have seen this, you can 
have no adequate conceptions of the solemn scene. I felt as 
though I was standing on the verge of the eternal world ; 
while the floor under my feet was shaken by the trembling of 
anxious souls in view of a judgment to come. The solemnity 
was still heightened, when every knee was bent at the throne 
of grace, and the intervening silence of the voice of prayer, 
was interrupted only by the sighs and sobs of anxious souls. 
I have no time to relate interesting particulars. I only add, 
that some of the most stout, hard-hearted, heaven-daring 
rebels have been in the most awful distress. Within a circle 
whose diameter would be twenty-four miles, not less than 
eight hundred souls have been hopefully born into the king- 
dom of Christ, since last September. The same glorious 
work is fast spreading into other towns and congregations. 
" This is that lohich was spoken by the prophet Joel,'''' 
9 



98 MEMOIR OF 

The above letter was dated Union College, April 28th, 
1820. 

In the same volume of the Religious Intelligencer, there is 
a letter from a student in Union College, dated March 6th, 
1820, giving a very similar account of this revival, except that 
it had made greater progress at the date of Mr. Nettleton s 
letter. I quote one short paragraph from this letter, to show 
the character of the revival in Malta. After having given 
some account of the revival at Saratoga Springs, the writer 
says — " It commenced then in Malta, about ten miles from 
this place, under the labors of a Mr. Nettleton, a missionary 
from Connecticut. It commenced, I said in Malta ; and with 
such displays of the power of God's Spirit in crushing the 
opposition of the natural heart to every thing holy, as are very 
seldom seen. The Deist and Universalist, the Drunkard, 
the Gambler, and the Swearer, were alike made the subjects 
of this heart-breaking work. Four months ago, Christ had 
no church there. It was a place of great spiritual dearth — 
and like the top of Gilboahad never been wet by rain or dew. 
But the Lord has now converted that wilderness into a fruitful 
field. They have an organized church of eighty-five mem- 
bers, and the work of conviction is going on." 

This revival, which commenced at Saratoga Springs, and 
spread into the surrounding region, resulted in the hopeful 
conversion of not less than two thousand souls. 

In the month of April, 1820, Mr. Nettleton commenced his 
labors in Nassau, a village a few miles east of Albany. 
Among his papers, has been found the following sketch of the 
revival in this place. Had he kept a similar journal of his 
labors in all the places in which he preached, it would have 
contained a vast amount of interesting intelligence. But this 
is the only thing of the kind to be found among his papers. 
It is here given as presenting a specimen of the revivals which 
occurred under his preaching. 



DR. NETTLETON. 99 

" A sketch of a revival of religion in Nassau, which com- 
menced April, 1820. 

" The state of religion in this village and its vicinity, has 
for years been deplorable. The village contains a house for 
public worship, held in common by two denominations, the 
Dutch Reformed and the Presbyterians. The former, during 
the winter past, have had one sermon every other Sabbath, 
and the latter have had no settled minister, and no regular 
preaching for years. Indeed, their little church had become 
nearly extinct. The revival of religion in this place com- 
menced as follows : 

" In the month of February, a number of persons from this 
village visited Malta, during the revival there. One of this 
number was left at Malta, became a hopeful subject of divine 
grace, and shortly after returned to this village. The sacred 
flame began to kindle in the hearts of a few old professors. 
The news of distant revivals began to excite inquiry, and 
some few sinners became more solemn. One, after a season 
of distress, became joyful. For a moment, hope was cher- 
ished, that a glorious day had dawned ; but the surrounding 
darkness prevailed, and hope at length expired. For a few 
weeks, I had been absent from Malta. On my return, I re- 
ceived repeated and pressing invitations to visit Nassau. 
Prompted by this state of things, instead of returning to Sche- 
nectady, as was expected, I concluded to defer it for one 
week, and visit Nassau. 

'• April 1 9. Arrived at Nassau. Attended a meeting in the 
school-house. About fifty assehibled, and nothing particular 
occurred. 

" April 20. This evening attended a meeting in a large 
dining hall in a public house. The room was crowded. A 
number stood around the doors and windows, and listened 
with respectful silence and much solemnity. It afterwards 
appeared that not less than twelve or fifteen dated their first 
serious impressions from that meeting. A Mr. P subse- 



100 MEMOIR OF 

quently observed, ' 1 went to that meeting full of prejudice. 
You began to tell me the feelings of my heart, and I began to 
be vexed and angry at one or two of my neighbors for in- 
forming you what I had said. I thought you was a man of 

great brass. On returning from meeting, I asked Mrs. P 

how she liked it ? She burst into tears, and we both wept.' 

" Another whose mind was impressed at this meeting, was 
a young woman who had passed through a revival in the town 
of Salisbury, Conn., five years before. She had been some- 
what anxious and lost her concern, and as I have since learn- 
ed, had made light of the subject. She entered the room this 
evening in company with others, without suspecting that the 
preacher was a man whom she had ever seen before. She 
remarked afterwards, ' as soon as I saw the preacher, I felt 
distressed. I observed it was the same man that preached in 
Salisbury. I was expecting a revival. From this time her 
former feelings returned ; and in addition, she was over- 
whelmed with a sense of her guilt in having dropped the 
subject. 

" April 21. This evening met those tbat were anxious, at 

Dr. M 's. About thirty were present. As I commenced 

speaking to them in general, all were very still and solemn. 
Suddenly a youth sitting near the window, as if pricked in the 
heart, cried out in distress. This produced no diversion of 
attention, but increased the solemnity ; for the cause was per- 
fectly understood. After conversing with each one, we bowed 
the knee together at the throne of grace, and then in solemn 
stillness retired at an early hour. A number of these anxious 
souls belonged to one family. They reached home weeping. 
The father of the family had retired to rest. As the carriage 
came up to the door, he heard the cry of distress, and started 
from his bed to learn the cause. His daughter-in-law, on 
entering the house, threw her arms around his neck and ex- 
claimed, * My father, what shall I do ? what shall I do ? ' She 



DR. NETTLETON. 101 

continued for some time in great distress, but before morning, 
was rejoicing in hope. 

" April 22. Saturday — \Yas in some doubt what course 
to pursue, as the meeting house on the next Sabbath was en- 
gaged. Rode to Greenbush, and negotiated an exchange with 
the Rev. Mr. Marselus of the Dutch Reformed Church. 

" xlpril 23. Sabbath — Mr. Marselus preached at Nassau 
with power and effect, and at the close of the services, at my 
request, read a letter from Dr. McAuley, containing an account 
of the revival in Union College and Schenectady. This in- 
creased the solemnity. I preached at Greenbush in the fore- 
noon, and at 3 o'clock, P. M., preached again in a ball-room 
at a public house, on the road about two miles from this village. 
When I arrived, I found the ball-room crowded to overflow- 
ing. At the close of the services, a number assembled around 
me. Some from curiosity, but many in deep distress, weep- 
ing aloud. I requested them to suppress their cries, and be 
as still as possible. At this meeting a number were awa- 
kened. This evening, preached in the mxCetin^-house in this 
village for the first time, to a crowded and solemn audience. 

'' April 24. This evening met about sixty in a meeting for 
anxious inquirers. Among them Tvere many in deep distress. 
This I expected would be my last meeting in this place. But 
I found so many in distress for their souls, and the number 
increasing, that I announced the appointment of one public 
meeting more in the meeting-house, on the following evening. 

" April 25. Met in the meeting-house. More crowded 
than ever, and solemn as eternity. Preached on the ?iature 
and reasonableness of gospel repentance, and urged the duty 
of immediate compliance, and the danger of delay. Never 
more expecting to meet my anxious hearers in this world, I 
urged them by all the solemnities of the judgment, not to pass 
the threshold of the meeting-house that night, with impenitent 
hearts. They seemed to hear as for their lives. One from 

deep distress, found relief in the midst of the discourse, and 
9* 



102 MEMOIR OF 

lifted up a joyful countenance. No sooner had I closed and 
stepped from the stage, than she came near, and taking her 
husband by the hand, urged him to come to Christ. It was 
like a two edged sword. It pierced him to the heart. At 
this moment the anxious ones assembled around me, and took 
me some by the hand, some by the arm, and some by the coat, 
exclaiming, ' Don't leave us. What shall I do ? What shall 
I do ? ' Nearly the whole congregation tarried. Those who 
could not come near, stood, some on the seats, and some on 
the sides of the pews, to hear and see. From the midst of 
this scene of distress, I addressed the whole congregation for 
about five minutes. Among other things I said, 

"My hearers, I now no longer hesitate to tell you what I 
have hitherto been afraid to speak, that a revival of religion is 
begun in Nassau. Yes, from what I have seen, I can no lon- 
ger doubt the fact. I believe you are about to witness a solemn 
and trying time in this place ; and now you must prepare 
either to be taken or to be left. I then told them, I -would 
meet them in the morning at sunrise, in the school-house, 
and pray with them before I left, if they chose. I advised 
them to depart as still as possible, and to be retired through 
the night. 

" April 26. Met them in the morning before sunrise. Two 
of those who went away in distress last night, came to me 
rejoicing this morning. They found relief before they slept. 
I prayed and conversed with them a few moments, and started 
for Schenectady before breakfast. Heard of one more rejoi- 
cing this morning. I called and found it so, and found others 
in distress. The distress in one house led me to another, and 
that to another, until I visited nine families before I left the 
place. It was truly affecting to witness these strangers cry- 
ing for mercy. In this state I left them, and went to Sche- 
nectady. During my absence, I felt a deep interest for them 
in Nassau. The scenes that I had there witnessed, were con- 
tinually before me. It rained, and I tarried two nights. 



DR. NETTLETON. 103 

" April 28. Started from Schenectady for Nassau. Arri- 
ved at Mr. B 's within three miles of the village, late in 

the evening. In this house, some whom I had left in great 
distress met me with joyful countenances. Here I was in- 
formed that the Baptists had a meeting at the meeting-house 
this evening. Wishing to embrace the opportunity to make 
an appointment, I drove on to the meeting-house, and found 
the house nearly full. All were standing, and about to retire, 
as the meeting had just closed. I made my way through the 
crowd, as I suppose, unobserved, stepped upon the stage, and 
announced an appointment for the next Sabbath. The effect 
of this little circumstance, was almost incredible. I could 
hardly say wdiich was most prominent, the burst of joy or of 
grief. A number came to me with joyful countenances, while 
others were borne down with grief. It is this night just 
one week since the first instance of hopeful conversion oc- 
curred, and now about thirty appear to be subjects of grace. 
Many of these, it was afterwards found, obtained relief on the 
day, and some a few moments after I left them. This was a 
memorable day. For when they afterwards came together 
to give a relation of their christian experience, we found that 
some on that day retired into the grov^es and fields, and some 
into their chambers and closets, to cry for mercy. I have 
since thought that the efifect of my leaving them as I did, i?i 
the advanced stages of their conviction^ was evidently benefi- 
cial. It drove them from all human dependence. Distress- 
ing as it is, and cruel as it may seem, it is necessary for them 
to feel that no arm but God's can help them. Similar efl^ects 
from like circumstances, have heretofore been witnessed. 

" April 30. Sabbath — The congregation was crowded and 
solemn. This day an event took place, unknown to me at the 
time, which was designed by the enemy to check and put a 
stop to the w^ork, but which in the hand of God was made 
subservient to its advancement. 

" May 1 . Met about eighty-five in the meeting of inquiry. 



104 MEMOIR OF 

" May 2. This evening held a meeting in the meeting- 
house, and took up the common sayings of christians, Vv'hich 
are calculated to check a revival by lessening the sinner's 
sense of obligation, and quieting him in his sins. 

" May 4. At this date, we find about forty rejoicing in hope. 
From this date to the 14th, preached nine times, and hsld one 
meeting for inquirers. 

"May 15. This evening attended a meeting of inqviry, 
and found the number and distress of anxious souls, rapidly 
increasing. The distress of W. is greatly augmented. This 
is the person who had been a little anxious during the revival 
in Salisbury, and whose attention had again been excited, on 
entering our meeting the second evening in this village. From 
this time, her distress continued about three days and nights. 
Providentially she was in a family a number of whom were 
thoughtless and far from religion. This was loud preaching. 
So great was her distress, that she was unable to attend meet- 
ings, and was confined to the house. Many called to witness 
her distress. She had concluded that the day of grace was 
over ; and she was now past the fear of mortals. She con- 
tinued crying, ^ Lord have mercy on my soul. I am lost — 0//, 
forever lost."* In this situation, she sent for me to call and see 
her, that she might beg my pardon for what she had said, be- 
fore she died. I called, and such was her agitation, that it 
was difficult to keep her in one position. Sometimes sitting, 
and then kneeling, in a piteous tone she would cry out, ' young 
people^ take warning from me ! young people, take warning from 
me /' The house w^as constantly visited by curious specta- 
tors, often till late at night. Many thought that she could not 
live long. One physician asked my opinion, whether I 
thought she would die. From past facts, I have noticed that 
this extreme distress does not generally continue long, espe- 
cially in seasons of revival — sometimes but a few moments — 
commonly a few hours, and rarely over three days. And when 
this extreme distress exceeds this time, I begin to fear that it 



DR. NETTLETON. 105 

may subside, as it has sometimes done without a change of 
heart. On the third day, she was rejoicing in hope. 

" The question is often asked, why is it that the convic- 
tions of some sinners are so much greater than those of 
others ? I answer, I do not know. The sinner's distress 
does not always appear to be in exact proportion to his crimes. 
But one thing I have learned from observation, and that is, 
that when persons of a particular description have been 
brought under conviction, they have been exercised with 
severe distress. Those who have once been a,nxious for 
their souls, and have been laughed out of it, and returned to 
the thoughtless world, if again awakened, are more distress- 
ed than ever. Those who once made it a business to retire 
and pray, and have long since dropped the subject, are usually, 
if their attention is again excited, greatly distressed. Those 
who have labored hard to stifle and throw off their convic- 
tions, or those who have formerly resisted the strivings of 
God's Spirit, are usually the subjects of keen distress, if con- 
vinced of sin, a second time. Those who have scoffed at 
the subject of religion, and have mocked the messengers of 
Christ, and ridiculed the worship of God, are usually filled 
with great consternation and agony, when brought to a just 
sense of their character and state. Those w^ho have made 
light of revivals of religion, by calling them enthusiasm, 
fanaticism, and the work of the devil — especially those w^ho 
have taken an active part in ridiculing the conviction and con- 
version of sinners, in the season of a revival — those who 
have called revivals by the hardest names, who have express- 
ed the greatest contempt of them, and who have done the 
most to bring them into disrepute — persons of this description, 
have been the most frightful monuments of distress, that I 
have ever witnessed. They despair of ever becoming the 
subjects of that work which they have treated with so much 
contempt. We have sometimes heard the champion of infi- 
delity expressing his horror for fear of having committed the 



106 MEMOIR OF 

unpardonable sin. I am acquainted with the names of per- 
sons, who have become perfectly deranged in consequence of 
their own opposition to the progress of revivals. Conscience, 
without any other accuser, has driven the enemy of revivals 
out of his reason into a state of settled delirium. The con- 
fession and fate of Judas, show the power of conscience, and 
stand recorded as a warning to the opposers of religion to 
beware. 

"May 17. This evening we met in the school house. 
The room was crowded, and the meeting was exceedingly 
joyful. Every word that was spoken, seemed to find a place 
in some heart. Such a season of rejoicing is rarely witness- 
ed. ' Old things are passed away^ and all things are become 
new.'' It is not yet quite one month since the work com- 
menced, and about sixty are supposed to be the subjects of 
grace. 

"May 19. This evening we met in a private house, and 
at the close of the exercises, one of the young converts spoke 
to a stout-hearted sinner who had been struggling against his 
conscience, and he dropped upon his knees in distress of soul. 
Another followed me nearly home, inquiring what he must do 
to he saved ! In this situation, I left him ; but before we re- 
tired to rest, he came in with a new song in his mouth. The 
other went home in great distress, but found relief before 
morning. 

" May 20. This was a solemn day throughout this village. 
Mr. L., a' young lawyer, who had been anxious for a few days, 
and who had retired to rest in my chamber, came to my bed- 
side early this morning in distress. He sat down to breakfast 
with us, and while at the table, heard the tidings that another 
of his mates had found the Saviour the last night. He in- 
stantly left the table and retired to my chamber. Sometime 
after, I entered the chamber and found him prostrate on the 
floor, crying for mercy. While he thus continued, waxing 
worse and worse, a number came up to see him ; but he 



DR. NETTLETON. 107 

seemed to take no notice of them, and continued pleading for 
mercy. About 10 o'clock, A. M., whether with a new heart, 
I cannot say, I only record the fact, he came dov/n stairs, 
expressing his joy that he had found the Saviour. At the same 
time, his fellow student M., in a house a few rods distant, lay 
prostrate in his chamber. I called and found a number as- 
sembled around him, while he lay crying for mercy. The 
burden of his prayer was, that God would pardon his self- 
righteousness. The fact was this. A few days previous, he 
and his brother lawyer, had shut themselves in a chamber, 
seeking, and striving and praying together for a long time, 
thinking without doubt, they should ere long succeed in be- 
coming christians. Here they continued, until both had 
become exceedingly self-righteous. They could see it in 
each other, and each was alarmed at it, and asked my opinion 
if they had not better separate. By all means, I told them. 
This sight of his heart was doubtless what most distressed 
him. About three o'clock P. M., he arose in like manner, 
rejoicing that he had found the Saviour. 

May 21. Sabbath — Held a meeting at a public house, 
(Mr. B's,) four or five miles from this village. When I arrived, 
the rooms were filled — doors and window^s thronged. Those 
who seemed the most anxious, had placed themselves near 
the seat of the speaker. When I named the psalm, all was 
silence, except the sighs and sobs of anxious souls. The 
moment I began to speak, 1 felt that God was there. I ad- 
dressed them from Gen. vii. 1. ' Come thou and all thy house 
into the Ark.'' I felt unusual freedom and satisfaction in 
speaking. The solemnity of the scene will long be remem- 
bered. When I had pronounced the benediction, I know not 
that a foot moved. All were standing, and still anxious to 
hear. I gave them an account of what I had witnessed up in 
the village the week past. Many had assembled from the 
surrounding regions of desolation, doubtless from motives of 
curiosity, having heard something of the wonderful movement 



108 MEMOIR OF 

in the village. While giving a relation of these wonderful 
things, every ear was attentive. Some were sighing, and 
some were gazing in wild amazement. The language of 
every look seemed to be, we never heard such things before. 
In one large room which was crowded entirely full, nearly all 
were in deep distress, besides many crowding round the 
doors and windows, all apparently equally anxious, except 
here and there a joyful convert. They were crowded so 
closely together, that I could not pass among them to converse. 
So I spoke to one and another here and there at a distance, 
as I could catch their eyes as they lifted them streaming with 
tears. All M^ere utter strangers whom I addressed, and not a 
name could I call. My only method of designation was, by 
pointing and saying, I mean you, and you, or this sinner, and 
that sinner. Never did I feel a deeper compassion for sinners, 
than for these poor strangers. A number, I know not how 
many, v/ere awakened this day. 

" Preached in the village in the afternoon and evening. 
At this time, we concluded that the crisis of solemnity was 
past in the village. 

" May 22. This evening attended the meeting for inquir- 
ers, and all things considered, it was the most distressing and 
painful scene hitherto witnessed in this revival. Unexpect- 
edly, a number who had never before attended, came from the 
region of solemnity above described. Some came four or 
five miles, and crowded the meeting, and threw it into a scene 
of awful distress. The distress was so great, and the sup- 
pressed sighs and sobs became so loud, that I could scarcely 
hear my own voice. One or two found rehef on the spot ; 
and some lost their strength, so that we w^ere obliged to help 
them out of the chamber. It was with the utmost difficulty 
that I could prevail on them to separate. Some would start 
to retire, but the cry of distress would call them back again, 
and in this state, we were long detained. After leaving the 
chamber, the distress was so great, it was almost impossible 



DR. NETTLETON. 109 

to prevail on them to retire. At length, all retired but one, 
who in great agony, tarried through the night. But many 
who came from a distance, remained over night in the neioh- 
borhood. 

" May 24. This evening attended a meeting at Mr. G's. 
A number sobbed and wept. 

"May 25. This evening met again at the same place. 
One who formerly thought he had obtained a hope and lost it, 
was again awakened, and at the close of the meeting cried 
aloud. He professes to have found relief, but I think without 
any good evidence of a change of heart. I fear he has again 
deceived himself. 

"May 26. This evening met the young converts in a social 
meeting, and began to hear a relation of their christian ex- 
perience. 

" May 27. This afternoon held a general meeting of the 
young converts, and of all others who chose to attend ; the ob- 
ject of which was, to address the subjects of this work en the 
nature of a public profession of religion. Spoke of the 
duty — the qualifications requisite — and stated and answered 
objections. The duty ; 1. To God. 2. To yourself. 3. To 
the church. 4. To the world, &c. 

" May 28. Sabbath. Preached thrice to a crowded, at- 
tentive, solemn and yet joyful audience. 

" May 29. This evening met nearly 200 in a meeting for 
inquirers. This meeting was anticipated by many with secret 
dread. Some christians, doubtless, among the rest, who were 
present and witnessed the scene of distress at the last inquiry 
meeting were heard to say, that they dreaded to attend this 
evening. They could hardly endure the thought of passing 
through such a scene of distress a second time. And I can 
truly say, that for the first time, I felt the same reluctance. 
But to the astonishment of all, instead of an anxious, we had 
a joyful meeting. Most of those in such distress at our last 
meeting for inquirers, had found relief, and were exceeding 
10 



110 MEMOIR OF 

joyful. What an astonishing change in one week ! I felt 
that it could hardly be possible. We had lost our anxiety, 
and had little else to do, but to render united thanks to God 
for what he had done. But before we parted, I went round 
and collected into a circle, a number who were without hope, 
conversed with each one, addressed the whole and prayed 
with and for them, as those professing no hope. This was 
evidently the means of deepening their impressions. 

" May 30. This evening met in the school house. The 
room v^as crowded, and the audience were still, solemn, ani- 
mated and joyful. The same was the general character of 
our meetings after this date. 

" From this time, we spent a number of half days and 
evenings in hearing a relation of their christian experience, 
preparatory to a public profession. These were interesting 
and animating seasons, affording the best opportunity of 
learning the human heart in all its foldings of depravity and 
opposition ; and the astonishing change wrought by the power 
of God's grace. 

"June 25. Sabbath — This day sixty-eight made a public 
profession of religion, thirty-two of whom were baptized. 
At this time, more than a hundred had, to appearance, become 
the subjects of divine grace. A number more have since, 
publicly professed Christ ; and of these, five young men are 
preparing for the gospel ministry." 

This sketch was drawn up by Mr. Nettleton, a few months 
after he left Nassau, from brief memoranda which he kept at 
the time. This, as I have said, is a specimen of the revivals 
w^hich occurred under his preaching. In not less than forty 
or fifty places there were revivals in connection with his 
labors, quite as interesting as this ; and in some of them, the 
hopeful converts were twice or thrice as numerous. 

While I speak of this as a specimen of the efl^ects of Mr. 
Nettleton's preaching, I ought, perhaps, to make one or two 
slight exceptions. When he first went to Nassau, he expect- 



D^R. NETTLETON. Ill 

ed to remain there but a short time. This circumstance in- 
duced him to hold meetings more frequently than he did in 
ordinary cases ; and as he was obliged to close his labors 
there in about two months from the time the revival began, 
and as the church was destitute of a pastor, he admitted some 
of the converts to the church, sooner than he was wont to do. 
With these slight exceptions, the foregoing sketch will give 
the reader a very good view of his ordinary course of pro- 
ceeding, and of the effects which accompanied his labors. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Laborsr in New Haven, Norf;h Killingworth, North Madison, Wethersfield, New- 
ington, and Farmington. 

In the summer of 1820, there was some unusual serious- 
ness in New Haven, and in Yale College ; and at the earnest 
solicitation of the pastors, Mr. Nettleton again visited that 
city. He arrived August 5, and as appears from his journal, 
continued his labors there, with some occasional absences, 
until the December following. 

The Religious IntelUgencer of September 2d, contains the 
following notice of the state of religious feeling in New 
Haven at that date. 

" Reports have doubtless gone abroad, that a revival of reli- 
gion has commenced in this city. We have felt desirous to 
communicate this good news to our readers, that they might 
rejoice with us ; but believing that ill effects are sometimes 
produced by a premature disclosure, when a revival has but 
partially commenced in the hearts of individuals or in a com- 
munity, we have heretofore observed a silence on this sub- 
ject, waiting to see what the Lord was about to do for us. A 
revival of religion has been felt in the hearts of some chris- 
tians in this place, for some time past, and they have had a 
holy confidence, that a shower of divine grace was about to 
be poured out in answer to their prayers, on this dry and 
thirsty place. We have seen the cloud like a man's hand, 
and we now hear the sound of abundance of rain ; verily the 
Lord is among us, convincing of sin, of righteousness and of 



DR. NETTLETON. 113 

judgment — many are pricked in the heart, some are rejoicing 
in the Lord, and convictions and conversions are daily multi- 
plying. The power and the mercy of God are extensively 
felt in college, and many of the dear youth have been brought 
to submit to the sceptre of Immanuel ; and many others are 
bowed down under a sense of sin, and are anxiously inquiring 
what they must do to be saved. We cannot be more particu- 
lar at present. Christians, pray for us. Forget not that there 
are nearly three hundred young men of talents in this college, 
and their hearts are in the hands of that God who hears your 
prayers, if you are christians. May we be humble and re- 
joice in the Lord, and wait for his salvation." 

The following letter to the young converts at Nassau, was 
written by Mr. Nettleton, five days after the above statement 
was published. 

"New Haven, Sept 7, 1820. 
•' My dear Frie?ids : 

" The moment I take my pen to address you, I im- 
agine myself seated in the midst of that same dear circle. 
Every name and every countenance appears familiar. The 
inquiry meeting, the crowded assembly, the heaving sigh, the 
solemn stillness, and the joyful countenances awaken all the 
tender sensibilities of my heart. My dear friends, no friend- 
ship, no attachment in this world, is equal to that created in a 
revival of religion. 

•* The fellowship of kindred minds 
Is like to that above." 

" What is felt at such a season, is in anticipation of the 
joys of the heavenly world. I doubt not your hearts retain 
the sweet recollection of what Paul hints to the Ephesian 
converts. ' Who hath raised us up together, and made us sit 
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.' But, my dear 
friends, after all, the milk and the honey lie beyond this wilder- 
10* 



Il4 MEMOIR OF 

ness world. A voice from heaven is heard, ' Arise ye, and 
depart, for this is not your rest.' 

" By this time some of yon begin to learn, that you are on 
the field of battle. The world, the flesh and the devil, are 
potent enemies. You v^dll have need to buckle on the whole 
armor of God. But whatever may betide, never, no iwver 
think of dropping the subject. True, the conflict may be 
sharp, and the pathway to heaven steep and difficult, but, 
brethren, the time is short. The conflict will soon be over. 
Think not so much about present enjoyment^ as about present 
duty. 

" I must give you a short account of the revival in this place. 
Meetings are held every evening in the week, crowded, still, 
and solemn as eternity. Every Monday evening, we meet 
the anxious ones in a large ball-room. We have had from 
sixty to about three hundred assembled at these meetings, all 
solemn, and many in deep distress of soul. The cloud of 
divine influence, has gone rapidly over our heads, and covered 
us with awful solemnity. x\nd there is the sound of abun- 
dance of rain. The fields have whitened every where, and 
we are in danger of losing much of the harvest, because we 
cannot reap every where at once. 

" We visit by appointment, and make a number of visits in 
a day at a given hour. We sometimes meet ten or fifteen, and 
sometimes thirty at once. We converse a little with each 
one, speak a word to all. in general, pray and pass on to ano- 
ther circle, and so we spend our time. Our visits are gen- 
erally short, except one which will never be forgotten. This 
was August 25, at 2 o^clock, P. M., at the house of Mr. B. 
We entered the house at the time appointed, and found about 
twenty persons sitting around the room in pensive silence. 
All had been more or less anxious for a number of days, and 
one was in awful distress. This one I addressed more partic- 
ularly, and urged the duty of immediate repentance, not with- 
out some hope that relief would be obtained on the spot ; for 



iDR. NETTLETON. ^ 115 

I felt sure that this state of feeling, could not long be sustained. 
While pressing the conscience of this sinner, I found that this 
distress had spread nearly throughout the circle. I detained 
them the usual time, and advised them all to retire home to 
their closets. Some started and went out of the door, and 
others sat still with heavy hearts. Very soon, Emily return- 
ed, exclaiming, '0, I cannot go home, I dare not go. I shall 
lose my concern. What shall I do ? ' and threw herself down 
in a chair, and her head on the table, in the deepest agony. 
All at once she became silent, and gently raised her head with 
a placid countenance, and was heard to say in a mild tone of 
voice, ' O5 I can submit, I can love Christ. How easy it is ; 
why did I not do it before.' We sat in silent amazement. 
Every word sunk deep into our hearts. W^e felt the convic- 
tion that God was there. She seized her next companion by 
the hand, and with all the tenderness becoming a fellow sinner, 
began to press those very truths, which had so distressed her 
own heart, the duty of immediate repentance and submission 
to God. Every word became an arrow. I felt that the work 
was taken out of my hands, for I perceived that God had made 
her the most powerful preacher. All at once, A. became 
silent, and lifted her head with a countenance beaming with 
joy. ' The Saviour has come — O how happy.' This sent 
fresh alarm through every heart. And now A^ and E. unite 
heart and hand, and begin with H. who had been in deep dis- 
tress for some time. They urge with all the tenderness and 
firm decision of those who had felt the conviction, the neces- 
sity, and reasonableness of immediate repentance, and sub- 
mission to God. The subject pressed harder and harder and 
harder still, when all at once, H. was brought out of darkness 
into marvelous light. These three now unite heart and hand, 
and with one voice bear testimony to the same heart-rending 
truth that God is right and the sinner wrong. The time would 
fail me to finish the story of this visit. We met at 2 o'clock, 
P. M., and were detained more than three hours. Suffice it 



i 1 6 M £ M O I R O F - 

to say, I never saw or heard of such an afternoon visit before, 
for the one half has not been told. At the close, we began 
to look about us to see, and inquire, what hath God wrought I 
We brought them into one circle. I said, is it possible ! This 
is too much ! Had I not seen it, I could not have believed it. 
For nine of those who entered the room in deep distress, were 
now rejoicing in hope. The anxious ones had retired, and 
we were left in a circle of young converts, if they are not de- 
ceived. Not a hint had been given that one soul had experien- 
ced religion, or had any reason to hope. This was the feeling, 
' It is right I should love and serve God, and this I intend to 
do, whether saved or lost.' Oh, it was a delightful circle, 
humble, tender, affectionate and joyful. They appeared like 
children of the same great family. 

" About eighty have been brought to rejoice in hope in this 
city during five weeks past. Besides these, about twenty-five 
students in Yale College, have become hopeful subjects of 
divine grace. But we much fear the bustle of commence- 
ment. It would be nothing strange, if all our prospects of a 
future harvest should be blighted, before another week shall 
end. Pray for us. My love to all my dear friends in Nassau, 
and tell them how I long to see them. Live near to God. 
Live in peace^ and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 
In short, ' Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gos- 
pel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, 
I may hear of your affairs, that ye standfast in one spirit.^ with 
one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.'' 

Yours as ever." 

The reader will observe that in describing the scene of 
thrilling interest which occurred at the house of Mr. B., Mr. 
Nettleton says, "iVb^ a hint had been given that one soul had expe- 
rienced religion, or had any reason to hopeP This accords with 
his uniform practice. He never told persons that they had 
reason to hope. He would set before them with great plain- 



D E, . N £ T T L E T O N . 117 

ness, the distinguishing evidences of regeneration, and enjoin 
it upon them to be faithful and honest in the application of 
these evidences to themselves. 

The reader may be curious to know what became of these 
nine individuals, who were thus suddenly, and almost simul- 
taneously, brought to rejoice in hope ; and the suspicion may 
perhaps have crossed his mind, that with most of them the 
change was the effect of sympathy, and was only temporary. 
This, however, appears not to have been the case. I have 
understood that they all gave very satisfactory evidence of 
piety. Five of them have departed this life, all of whom died 
peacefully, and some of them very triumphantly. Those who 
sur\dve, it is believed, continue to adorn their christian pro- 
fession. Of two that are dead, viz. Susan B. Marble, and 
Adehne Marble, interesting memoirs were published. Susan 
B. Marble was the youngest of the nine, being in the four- 
teenth year of her age. She died Feb, 4th, 1821, the day on 
which she, with one hundred other individuals was to have 
been received into the church. She appears to have been a 
youth of remarkably amiable disposition. Her biographer, 
speaking of her state of mind while under conviction, says, 
" It was peculiarly interesting to converse with her at this 
time. A person ignorant of the natural character of man, as 
delineated in the scriptures, would think that one so young 
and amiable could need nothing new ; yet according to the 
estimate of the Saviour of sinners, she still lacked one thing. 
This she felt and deplored. What chiefly distressed her, 
was, the sinfulness and hardness of her heart, and its opposi- 
tion to God." 

I quote this remark, for the purpose of turning the attention 
of the reader to the fact,that those who w^ere converted under Mr. 
Nettleton's preaching, however young and however amiable, 
were brought to see the sinfulness and hardness of their hearts, 
and their opposition to God. 

In a letter from Mr. Nettleton to Mrs. Parmele, of Bolton, 



118 M E M O I R O F 

dated May 15th, 1822, there is a touching allusion to the 
scenes above described. 

" You recollect reading an account of the death of Susan B. 
Marble, in New Haven. She was one of the nine who were 
brought out rejoicing in an afternoon's visit. When I was in 
New Haven last, Betsey Bishop, another of that number died. 
She was an interesting youth. I had then so far recovered 
my health, that I went to the conference room, and addressed 
the people on the subject of her death, and alluded to that 
interesting afternoon. A number of ^that same circle called 
to see me one evening, and to talk over the interesting- 
event. They used to meet frequently by themselves, and con- 
verse and pray together. It was a little band of love. Adeline 
Marble, Susan's sister, was one of this happy number. She 
was present at that evening visit — still clad in mourning. 
Last evening, I saw from the paper, that she too has gone to 
her long home. I retired, and could not but weep — ' Child of 
mortality.' Thus three of these blooming youth, have found 
an early grave. Had you seen them as I have, you too would 
weep, as well as rejoice." 

The Religious Intelligencer for Oct. 7th, contains the fol- 
lowing statement in relation to the progress of this revival. 

" We mentioned not long since, that a revival had commen- 
ced in this city. Since that time God has done great things 
for us, which has given joy on earth, and we believe great joy 
in heaven. Since the commencement of this glorious work 
of grace, there have been within the bounds of charity, about 
two hundred souls, belonging to the two Congregational soci 
eties, including about thirty in college before its recess, who 
have been called out of darkness into marvelous light. This, 
when compared v,ath the five preceding years of dearth, will 
be considered as the commencement, at least, of a glorious har- 
vest. And we still hope for greater things than these. Truly, 
this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. He 
works like himself, and none can hinder. The blindest infidel 



DR. NETTLETO^*: 119 

must see and acknowledge that it is-tlie work of God. And 
could he witness our assemblies, wh^re three or four hundred 
are convened for the purpose of inquiry, and behold the solem- 
nity and the distress for sin, we think he would feel that the 
Lord M'as there. And could he behold the same company of 
convicted, trembling sinners, in smiling crowds, rejoicing in 
the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, he would be equally con- 
vinced that thesame Holy Spirit,, who convinced them of sin, 
is, when the sinner has submitted, the blessed comforter which 
Christ promised to send. 

" The work is still in progress. It is the still, small voice 
that convinces of sin. . ' The wind bloweth where it listeth ; 
we hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it cometh 
or whither it goeth.' We have no new gospel, no other terms 
of salvation than those that have always been held out, for 
acceptance. • The sinner has been taught invariably, that he 
must not look for comfort without submission. And such has 
been the faithfulness of our spiritual teachers, that in most 
cases, those v/ho have been slain by the law, and brought to 
despair of climbing up some other way, have been led directly 
to the Saviour, wdio is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ; and 
who has always been ready and willing to receive them." 

This revival continued for many months, and spread into 
all the surrounding region. In the Religious Intelligencer for 
June 9th, 1821, is the following statement: 

" On the last Sabbath, twenty-six were added to the church 
under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Merwin, making in 
all, about three hundred added to the congregational churches 
in this city, as fruits of the revival. We trust a goodly num- 
ber more will still come over from the ranks of the enemy, 
and publicly avow their friendship for Him who has said, 
' whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess 
also before my Father, which is in heaven.' 

" Since the revival commenced in this city, it has extended 
to most of our neighboring towns. Out of thirty-one congre- 



120 -MEMOIR OF 

gations in the county of New-Haven, at least twenty-five have 
been visited, during the past winter and spring, with the 
special presence of the Lord ; and it is estimated that within 
these limits, between fifteen hundred and two thousand souls 
have been called by his grace, out of nature's darkness into 
marvelous light." 

Mr. Nettleton confined his labors to New Haven and Yale 
College, until the 18th of September, when he repaired to 
North Killingworth, his native place. He returned to New- 
Haven, October 10th, and continued there about a week, 
preaching several times. He labored there also for a season 
in the month of December. 

His labors were greatly blessed in North Killingworth. 
He went there from New Haven, September 18. He men- 
tions in his journal that on the 25th of that month he attended 
an inquiry meeting at which sixty-two were present. From 
this time, the work became very powerful and rapid in its 
progress. On the 29th, thirty were rejoicing in hope ; and on 
the 23d of October, there were ninety rejoicing. 

The Rev. Asa King, who was at that time pastor of the 
church in North Killingworth, in a letter dated July 16th, 1844, 
says, " That ever-to-be-remembered revival commenced about 
the last of August, in a Bible class, which for some months, I 
had weekly attended ; and it had been in pleasing progress 
for some time before brother Nettleton's arrival ; when under 
his labors it received a fresh impulse, a.nd went forv/ard with 
unusual power. As he used occasionally to visit his native 
place, to rest awhile from the exhausting labors of a revival, I 
had the privilege of gathering many useful hints from his com- 
munications, and I am free to say, that to him, under God, I 
am very much indebted for the measures I adopted, and for 
the course which, with a good degree of success, I pursued, 
before he came to my assistance. After spending several 
weeks at North Killingworth, he was called to New Haven, 
and then to Wethersfield, and visited us only occasionally. 



D R . N ET TL ET O X. 121 

" The hopeful converts were one hundred and sixty-two ; 
one hundred and seven of whom united with the church at the 
communion season in January, and soon after twenty-five more 
— making in all one hundreds and thirty-two. So far as I have 
known, with very few exceptions, they have been careful to 
maintain good works. 

" The influence of that revival upon the church, was very 
happy. It produced unanimity of sentiment on doctrinal points 
about which they had long contended, and cordiality of feel- 
ing where there had been prejudices of long standing. Though 
brother Nettieton was a prophet in his own country ; yet I 
doubt whether in any place, his labors were more highly ap- 
preciated than they were by those who had known him from 
his childhood." 

In the months of October and November, he preached a few 
times in North Madison, where was a very interesting revival 
of religion, which was greatly promoted by his labors. 

At the earnest solicitation of the Rev. Dr. Tenney, on the 
23d of December, 1820, he came from New Haven to Weth- 
ersfield, where a Vvork of grace had already commenced. He 
labored here with great success for three or four months, occa- 
sionally visiting other places in the vicinity. 

The Religious Intelligencer, for April 13th, 1822, contains 
an account of this revival, written by Dr. Tenney, from which 
1 make the following extract : 

" Previous to the revival, our church consisted of about two 
hundred and sixty members. As its fruits, precisely two 
hundred more have been added. Of this addition seventy- 
nine are heads of families. Sixty-two are males, and thirt}^- 
two are young luimarried men, w^ho with ten previously in the 
church, make forty-two. A number of others have indulged 
hope, who have not professed religion. Generally, the sub- 
jects of the work still appear well. Some instances of con- 
version have been strongly marked. The awakening of some 
has been sudden and powerful, and has soon issued in tri- 
ll 



122 MEMOIR OF 

iimphant peace. In others, it has been as the still, small voice. 
One individual, wha had been a total disbeliever in revelation, 
began and continued to examine the subject of religion with all 
the coolness of a mathematician ; until in the course of a few 
weeks, the great truths of scripture, bore upon his conscience 
with insupportable power, and had almost that ' keen vibra- 
tion' through his soul, which makes hell ; and his heart yielded 
to God. One aged man said, ' If I have ever been born of 
God, it was on the day I was 76 years old.' Another said 
respecting himself, ' it was the day when I was 68.' In one 
family, a mother of eleven children, who had long gone to the 
table of Christ, mourning that of her great family there was 
not one to accompany her, now hopes that eight of her chil- 
dren, and two children-in-lav/, are the children of God. In 
another family, consisting of parents and seven children, all 
have indulged hope excepting one son who was absent at sea. 
Two of these are united to a different denomination. A 
widow, the mother of seven children, some of them pious 
years ago, now has hope of all the others ; the whole family 
belong to the church. Nearly at the very time that a v/oman 
experienced religion at home, her husband experienced it at 
sea. Of the nature and joy of their next meeting, let chris- . 
tians judge. 

" Greatly are we indebted to a number of neighboring min- 
isters, whose labors here were of great use. Peculiar are 
our obligations to the Rev. Asahel Nettletojnt, who was 
much with us, and whose labors were blessed eminently and 
extensively. To us and the churches in this region, he has 
been of as great use, as were to ancient Israel, their chariots 
and horsemen. Though in this work, there has been the 
strongest coincidence between the means used and the success, 
and between the prayerfulness of christians, and the convic- 
tion and conversion of sinners, yet God has displayed his 
glorious sovereignty as well as faithfulness. Here, and in 
this section of the country, God has illustriously displayed 



DR.NETTLETON. 123 

his perfections in the work which is emphatically His. To 
Him all the glory is due. To Him let it be given now and 
evermore." 

While in Wethersfield, Mr. Nettleton labored a part of the 
time in Newington, a parish in the town of Wethersfield, 
under the pastoral care of the Rev. Joab Brace. Here, as 
in other places, his labors were accompanied by the outpour- 
ing of the Spirit of God. There is an account of the revival 
in this place, published by Mr. Brace, in the Religious Intel- 
ligencer for May 11th, 1822. The following is an extract 
from this account. 

"In the summer of 1820, an uncommon emotion was felt. 
There was a sound in the top of the mulberry trees, and 
although the indication was not distinctly understood at the 
time, yet the result has proved, that God had then actually 
gone forth. A number of serious persons were under dis- 
tressing apprehension of ruin as coming on this place, and 
they cried unto the Lord for help. Several women of the 
church, privately instituted a weekly concert in the closet, to 
implore the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. A few sinners 
were uneasy, and yet without very definite impressions ; and 
there was no awakening of a decisive character, until three 
or four months after this period. 

" This religious concern may be traced to Wethersfield, and 
thence to New Haven, where the present series of revivals 
appear to have commenced in the summer of 1820. In 
Wethersfield, the work appeared with some distinctness in 
October ; and in November, it began to be spoken of abroad ; 
but there was no visible effect in this place. I thought it 
would be a local work, as revivals in this vicinity, had gener- 
ally been in former times ; and did not suppose that any 
measures were to be taken for extending it among our people ; 
but it is of great benefit, that neighboring ministers and peo- 
ple visit freq[uently, a place favored with the energy of the 
Spirit of God. The people heard with awe, of what God 



124 



MEMOIR OF 



was doing in the lirst parish in this town ; some persons went 
over to their meetings, and were distressed at the thought of 
this place being still passed by. Above all other means, what 
raised the general attention, was the coming of the Rev. 
Asahel Nettleton, on the last of December, 1820, as unex- 
pectedly as a messenger from heaven, apparently commission- 
ed from the Almighty Head of the Church, and accompanied 
by the Holy Spirit. Next morning, he preached on being 
ashamed of Christ. This fixed a listening ear. In the after- 
noon, he dwelt upon the causes of alarm to awakened sinners. 
In the evening the assembly was crow^ded, and the attention 
profound. His text was, Behold I stand at the door and knock. 
The discourse was closed wdth surprising effect, by repeating 
the hymn, ' Behold a stranger at the door.' When prayer 
was ended, while the people were standing, he made a very 
close application of the subject to their hearts, in a short ad- 
dress, Avhich wa,s very silently and solemnly heard. He re- 
quested them to retire without making a noise. ' I love to 
talk to you, you are so still. It looks as though the Spirit of 
God v/ere here. Go away as still as possible. Do not talk 
by the way, lest you forget your ow^n hearts. Do not ask 
how you like the preacher ; but retire to your closets, bow 
before God ; and give yoiu'selves to him this night.' After 
the benediction, he inquired of many persons individually, 
' have you made your peace with God 1 Do you calculate to 
attend to this subject V Many promised that they would try 
to make their peace with God immediately — that they would 
repent that night — and a permanent impression was made. 
From this, the flame spread over the parish ; the current of 
feeling was turned ; the people gathered around their minister 
with peculiar attachment ; meetings were crowded and sol- 
emn ; the things of eternity filled the people with awe. The 
work of God seemed to be in almost every house. Mr. Net- 
tleton continued his visits from the last of December to the 



DR. NETTLETON. 125 

first of April, with a beneficial influence, which it is hoped 
will be felt in the world of glory. 

" Friday, Jan. 26, 1821, was observed by the church as a 
special fast, in which they were joined by almost the whole 
congregation. It was a solemn season, and as we hope, a 
day of new life to some souls. In the evening, at sunset, a 
meeting for inquirers was held at my house, under the direc- 
tion and management of Mr. Nettleton, while I met the church 
at another house for prayer. In the mean time, a great con- 
gregation had assembled at the meeting-house, many from the 
neighboring parishes ; and there Mr. Nettleton discoursed 
with great effect, upon the story of the woman that washed 
the Saviour's feet with her tears ; Luke viii. 37 : to the end 
of the chapter. At this time, experimental religion had be- 
come the great theme of reflection and conversation, and it 
seemed as though all my people were pressing into the king- 
dom of heaven — numbers were every week embracing the 
hope that they had passed from death unto life. * * * 
The characteristics of the work may be thus stated. There 
were some instances of deep distress ; but none of that over- 
whelming kind, in which subjects faint, or fall to the ground, 
or are unable to leave their seats. In some cases, convictions 
were long continued ; in others, the heart was speedily bow- 
ed. Some, after long distress, rose almost imperceptibly to 
a faint hope ; in others, the hope was bright and satisfying. 
No instances of extravagant joy occurred, though several 
were much elevated. In convictions, the subjects were much 
afl'ected with their guiltiness before God, as with fear of 
everlasting destruction. When the sinner was humbled, he 
acknowledged his great depravity, his desert of eternal con- 
demnation, and his entire dependence on sovereign grace in 
the sight of God, and was pleased with the idea of uncon- 
ditional submission to the will and glory of God. One prom- 
inent feature in the converts, was, a fear of deception. Much 
was said on the danger of false hopes, M'hich probably had 
11* 



126 MEMOIR OF 

an influence to check flights of joy ; for they were much and 
anxiously inquiring how far the adversary might possibly be- 
On the whole, it has been a serious and delightful season. 
Many souls, we hope, have been truly brought home to Christ ; 
but also, many we fear have quenched the Holy Spirit, and 
taken up their portion in this world ; still prayer is made 
without ceasing for them. During Mr. Nettleton's stay with 
us, this place was a common center of divine entertainment, 
in comparison with which, all the pleasures of this world are 
faint and feeble. The multitudes who flocked in from the 
neighboring congregations, appeared to feel themselves richly 
repaid for their pains ; and some of them carried home the 
spirit,^ where it spread and operated powerfully, until the 
region appeared like the garden of God." 

Feb. 18th, 1821, Mr. Nettleton commenced his labors in 
Farmington. The results which ensued, may be learned 
from the following account, written by the Rev. Dr. Porter, 
pastor of the church in that place, and published in the ap- 
pendix to Dr. Sprague's Lectures on Revivals. 

" The year 1821 was eminently, in Connecticut, a year of 
revivals. Between eighty and a hundred congregations were 
signally blessed. From the commencement of the year, a 
new state of feeling began to appear in this town. On the 
first Sabbath in February, I stated to the assembly, the tokens 
of the gracious presence of God in several places of the 
vicinity, and urged the duties peculiarly incumbent on us at 
such a season. This I had often done before, but not with the 
same efl'ect. Professors of religion now began evidently to 
awake. They had an anxiety for themselves and for the peo- 
ple, that would allow them no rest. In their communications 
with each other and with the world, they were led spontane- 
ously to confess their unfaithfulness, and a few without the 
church, about the same time, were pungently convicted. In 
this state of things, Rev. Mr. Nettleton made us his first visit. 



DR. NETTLETON. 127 

His preaching on the evening of a Lord's day in this month, 
from Acts ii. 37, was sent home by the power of the Spirit 
upon the hearts of many ; and his discourse on the Wednes- 
day evening following, from Gen. vi. 3, was blessed to the 
conviction of a still greater number. As many as fifty per- 
sons, it was afterwards ascertained, dated their first decided 
purpose of immediately seeking their salvation from that 
evening ; and it is worthy of remark, that the same sermon 
was preached on the following week to two other large and 
solemn assemblies, in the adjoining parishes, with no special 
effect that could afterwards be traced. The fact probably 
was, that here it convinced numbers that the Spirit was 
already striving v/ith them, and that then was their day. ' A 
word spoken in due season, how good is it !' At a meeting of 
the anxious, on the evening of February 26, there were present, 
about a hundred and seventy. Here were persons of almost 
every age and class — some who a few weeks before, had put 
the subject of serious piety at a scornful distance, and others 
who had drovmed every thought of religion in giddy mirth, 
now bending their knees together in supplication, or- waiting 
in silent reflection, for a minister of the gospel to pass along, 
and tell them individually, what they must do. Twelve were 
found to have lately become peaceful in hope, and a great 
number to be powerfully convicted of sin. Fnora this time, 
so rapid w^as the progress of the work, that at the next simi- 
lar meeting, March 12th, there v/ere present a hundred and 
eighty, (the room would hold no more,) of whom, fifty sup- 
posed, that since the commencement of the revi^ al, they had 
become reconciled to God ; and a week afterwards, I had the 
names of more than ninety, who indulged the same persuasion 
concerning themselves. 

" The state of feeling which, at this time pervaded the 
town, was interesting beyond description. There v/as no 
commotion, but a stillness in our very streets ; a serenity in 
the aspect of the pious ; and a solemnity apparent in almost 



128 MEMOIR OF 

all, which forcibly impressed us with the conviction, that in 
very deed, God loas in this place. Public meetings, however, 
were not very frequent. They were so appointed, as to 
afford opportunity for the same individual to hear preaching 
twice a week, beside on the Sabbath. Occasionally there 
were also meetings of an hour in the morning or at noon, at 
private dwellings, at which the serious in the neighborhood 
were convened, on short notice, for prayer and conference. 
The members of the church also met weekly, in convenient 
sections, for prayer, and commonly on the evenings selected 
for the meetings of the anxious. From these various meet- 
ings, the people were accustomed to retire directly, and with 
little communication together, to their respective homes. 
They were disposed to be much alone, and were spontane- 
ously led to take the Word of God for their guide. The Bible 
was preferred to all other books, and was searched daily with 
eager inquiry. 

" Mr. Nettleton continued with us, except during a few 
short intervals, till about the middle of April. To his labors, 
so far as human instrumentality was directly concerned, the 
progress of the revival must be chiefly ascribed. The topics 
on which he principally dwelt, were the unchangeable obli- 
gations of the divine law, the deceitful and entirely deprav^ed 
character of the natural heart, the free, indiscriminate offers 
of the gospel ; the reasonableness and necessity of immedi- 
ate repentance ; the vanity of those excuses to which awa- 
kened sinners are accustomed to resort; and the manner, 
guilt, and danger of slighting, resisting, and opposing the op- 
erations of the Holy Spirit. His addresses were not formal 
discussions, first of one, and then of another of these sub 
jects, but a free declaration of the truth of God concerning 
them all, just as they lie in the course of spiritual experience, 
and would best subserve the particular end which he was 
laboring at the time to gain. They were too plain to be mis- 



DPv.. NETTLE TON, 129 

understood, too fervent to be unheeded, and too searching and 
convincing to be treated, with indifference. 

" It was a favorable circumstance, that among the first sub- 
jects of the work, there was a large proportion of the more 
wealthy and intelligent class. A considerable number of 
youths, belonging chiefly to this class, had just finished a 
course of biblical instruction, for which I had met them 
weekly, for more than a year. These, with scarcely an ex- 
ception, at the very commencement of the revival, embraced 
the gospel which they had learned ; and by their experience 
of its power, commended it to the families where they be- 
longed. Within about three months, I suppose there were 
about two hundred and fifty members of the congregation, 
who supposed that they had passed from death unto life. On 
the first Sabbath in June, a hundred and fifteen were added to 
the church, and at subsequent periods, a hundred and twenty 
besides. Of these, a few have since been rejected, and others 
have declined from their first love. But I have not perceived 
that a greater proportion of hopeful conversions in this revival, 
than in others, previous or subsequent to it, have proved un- 
sound. Many have died, and many have removed from our 
immediate connexion, but those who remain, now constitute 
the chief strength of the church." 

This account was written in 1832, eleven years after the 
revival. 

The Religious Intelligencer for Sept. 1st, 1821, contains an 
extract of a letter dated July 16th, of the same year, giving 
the following brief notice of this revival. 

" Of all the revivals that I have ever witnessed, none have 
so deeply interested my heart, none appear so strikingly to 
manifest the power of God, or the excellence of the christian 
character, as that with which Farmington has been blessed. 
Oh, I have often thought, while residing among this people, 
what glorious work a revival of religion would make in this 
town. The blessed effect of such a Avork I have now wit- 



130 ME M O in OF 

riessed ; and it is beyond any thing I could have had faith to 
pray for. The change in the moral aspect of things is aston- 
ishing. Many who have been very far from God and right- 
eousness, have as we humbly hope, recently been brought 
nigh by the blood of his Son. Some, whose moral condition 
once appeared hopeless, are now in their right minds, at the 
feet of Jesus. Many of the professed devotees of Mammon, 
have recently parted with all for Christ. A large class of 
this community have been eagerly engaged in the pursuit of 
riches ; and their clashing interests, combined with these 
feelings of selfishness and pride — which avarice fosters, have 
produced, as might be expected, quarrels among neighbors, 
and much hostility of feeling. The quelling of this hostile 
spirit, was among the first visible effects of the Spirit of God. 
Of many, v/ho have formerly been not even on speaking terms, 
it may now be said, as it was of the early disciples, ' See 
how these christians love one another.' Let any person wit- 
ness the glorious effects which this work of grace has produc- 
ed in Farmington, and still disapprove of a revival of religion ; 
and it would not be difficult, I think, to decide to whose king- 
dom that person belongs." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Labors in Plttsfield, Lenox, Lee, Litchfield, New Haven, Somers, Tolland, and 
South Wilbraham. 

In the year 1820, there was a revival of religion in Pitts- 
field, Mass. The Rev. Dr. Humphrey, late President of 
Amherst College, was pastor of the church in that tov/n. The 
religious attention had subsided, and the revival Vv^as supposed 
to be at an end, when in the spring of 18:21, under the preach- 
ing of Mr. Nettleton, God again appeared in his glory to build 
up Zion. There is an account of this revival from the pen of 
Dr. Humphrey, in the sixth volume of the Religious Intelligen- 
cer, from which I make the following extract, 

" Early in the month of I\Iay, the Rev. Asahel Nettleton, 
whose name is so familiar both to the friends and enemies of 
revivals, came to this town to ' rest awhile,' and to await the 
future calls of Providence. But he was not to remain long 
inactive ; and the three or four weeks which he thought of 
spending in retirement here, were prolonged through as many 
months of unceasing labor. By the middle of May, there was 
some excitement ; but whether it was the effect of mere curi- 
osity, or of the Spirit beginning to move on the hearts of the 
people, it was at first impossible to determine. For a fort- 
night or more, nothing very decisive took place. Which way 
the scale would turn, was to us altogether uncertain. Every 
thing appeared to be hushed into silent and anxious expecta- 
tion. It was the stillness that precedes an earthquake — 
though the subsequent shock was neither sudden nor violent. 



132 MEMOIR OF 

" In the latter part of May, we ventured, though with con- 
siderable solicitude, to appoint a meeting for the inquiring, if 
there should be any such in the congregation. Nearly twenty 
attended, and some of them were found to be under very seri- 
ous impressions. No professor of religion was invited or 
expected to attend. It was a meeting exclusively for those 
who were beginning to realize their exposure and their guilt. 
The next meeting was better attended, and it was found that a 
few were sinking in the deep waters of conviction. 

" From this time, the work solemnly and steadily advanced, 
particularly in the heart of the town, where the strong man 
armed, had for a longtime kept his palace. He lifted up his 
voice to summon the mighty to his standard, but it was in vain, 
for the God of Jacob was with us. So far was the enemy 
from making any impression upon the camp of the faithful, 
that his own ranks were thinned and disheartened, by the de- 
sertion of many on whom he had placed great reliance, and of 
whose unshaken allegiance, he had confidently boasted. 

" During the whole month of June, the revival grew more 
interesting and decisive every day. Many were rejoicing in 
hope, and more were alarmed at their own stupidity and dan- 
ger. The voice of prayer was heard for the first time in 
several of our principal families. Not less than five domestic 
altars were erected in one day. In this state of things, and 
when religion was the principal topic of conversation in all 
circles, whether large or small, it was natural for those who 
felt a new and deep interest in the subject, to wish for an 
appropriate celebration of the fourth of July, and arrangements 
were accordingly made for a prayer meeting at sunrise, and a 
public religious service in the afternoon. The prayer meeting 
was well attended. At two o'clock, our large house of wor- 
ship was filled, and we had the pleasure of meeting there 
many of our christian friends from different and even remote 
parts of the county. The audience was solemn, notwith- 
standing * * * * * But here let me 



D R . N E T T L E T O N . 133 

draw a veil over the painful interruptions which we experien- 
ced. Charity hopeth all things, endureth all things ; and he 
is but a poor soldier, who can be frightened by mere powder. 
It is due to justice to state, that all the respectable people in 
the town, (whatever some of them might think of the expe- 
diency of such a celebration,) strongly disapproved of what- 
ever tended to disturb us in our worship. But God meant it 
for good. Through the riches of his grace, an impulse was 
that day given to the revival, which was long and happily felt, 
and which we shall have reason to remember with no ordi- 
nary emotions of wonder and gratitude, for a great while to 
come. Instances of conviction and conversion became more 
frequent than they had been ; and from this time, the work 
continued with little abatement, though never so rapid in its 
progress, as some revivals, till the month of October. 

" The third Sabbath in September will not be forgotten by 
the present generation in Pittsfield ; for ' that Sabbath day was 
an high day.' 

" To see more than eighty persons, and one half of them 
heads of families, rising up to enter into covenant with God 
and his people — to look round and see' who they were, and 
think where some of them had been — to behold them coming 
forward, high and low, rich and poor together, and kneeling to 
receive the baptismal seal — to hear their song — to witness 
their emotions, and to welcome them for the first time to the 
table of the Lord — Oh it was a scene which I shall not at- 
tempt to describe. We had our aged Simeons and Elizabeths 
there ; and, we doubt not, there was joy in heaven. A sol- 
emn awe and stillness pervaded the great congregation, and 
some sinners were that day awakened by what they saw and 
heard in the sanctuary." 

In the foregoing account, there is allusion to what took 

place on the fourth of July. A description of that scene was 

given, by a person who was present, in a letter to the editor 

of the Charleston (S. C.) Intelligencer. It was afterwards 

12 



134 . MEMOIR OF 

copied into the Religious Intelligencer. I would gladly insert 
the whole letter would ray limits permit. 

The facts were these. The opposers of religion, finding 
that a religious celebration of our National Independence was 
agreed on, resolved to have a political celebration. They 
occupied the church in the morning. 

" At 2 o'clock," says the above-mentioned writer, " they 
who loA'-ed the Lord, and respected his ordinances, began to 
assemble in the same place. The church was crowded. 
While the people were assembling, and as they passed near 
the rioters, crackers were repeatedly exploded, in order to 
intimidate them. The service began. It went calmly and 
sweetly forward. The Rev. Mr. Humphrey, the pastor, took 
his text from John viii : 36. ' If the So?i, therefore, shall 
77iahe you free, ye shall be free indeed.'' 

" He had not proceeded far, when the word — fre — was 
given, and our ears were suddenly stunned, and the congrega- 
tion startled, by the report of cannon. It was the attack of 
the adversary, and it was well kept up. But unfortunately 
for him and his agents, every shot preached louder than ten 
thousand thunders. Meanwhile the drums beat, and the fifes 
played, and the soldiers marched back and forth before the 
church door, animated moreover by the music of the cannon, 
and the prospect of a glorious triumph over the cause of God. 
But alas ! they were laboring hard to defeat themselves. 
Some few christians, indeed, of delicate frame, and quick 
sensibilities, were agitated and alarmed ; and others, though 
not intimidated, dreaded the consequences of this violent at- 
tack ; but generally, there were high hopes that this tumult 
would be overruled for good. And so it was. So skillfully 
did the preacher allude to, and apply his discourse to the con- 
duct of the opposition out of doors ; such advantage did he 
take of every blast of the cannon and every play of the drum, 
by some well pointed remark, that it all w^ent like a two-edged 
sword to the hearts of listening sinners. Indeed, Mr. H. 



DR. NETTLETON. 135 

afterwards informed me, that had he showed the heads of his 
seraion to his opposers previously, and earnestly requested 
them, when he had reached such a point in his sermon, to 
fire, and when he reached another point fire, they could not 
more effectually have subserved the purpose of his discourse, 
than they did. Those gentlemen who had walked in the op- 
posers' procession, hung their heads, were disgusted, and in 
some instances were convicted deeply of sin. One gentle- 
man, who had been previously somewhat serious, declared to 
me that every shot of the cannon pierced his soul, filled him 
with a kind of indescribable horror, and brought him, through 
the blessing of God, to such a hatred and detestation of sin 
in himself and others, as constrained him quickly to fly to 
Christ. 

" I confess I trembled for the ark of God. Indeed I was so 
uneasy, that after the sermon was concluded, I went and ex- 
postulated with the ringleader, whose companion in wicked- 
ness I once had been, and over whom 1 thought I might have 
some influence. But I had reason to believe that in general 
the spirits of the children of God were perfectly unruffled. I 
sat near the Rev. Mr. Nettleton, and so delighted was he with 
the discourse, and so accurately prescient too was he of the 
result, that whenever an apt allusion dropped from the lips of 
the preacher, he would turn round with a holy smile, and 
whenever a shot from the cannon pierced our ears, he would 
say — it would involuntarily escape from him — ' that is good — 
that is good.'' Speaking afterwards of the events of this day, 
he observed to me, ' Did you not feel calm. I thought there 
loas a deep and majestic calmness overspreading the minds of 
christians.' I found that very many did indeed feel so. 
Nothing could be more appropriate, or more naturally arise 
out of his text, than Mr. H's. description of the miserable 
bondage in which those out of doors were faithfully serving 
their master. 

" The ministers looked forward with an alternation of hope 



136 M E M O 1 R O F 

and fear to tlie meeting of inquiry, as that meeting was gen- 
erally esteemed a kind of spiritual thermometer, by which the 
degree of warmth and feeling in the society could be meas- 
ured. This was held for an hour previously to the evening 
service. The time arrived. It was crowded — never so full 
before. The daring and outrageous attack in the day had 
driven many to the place in which he that appeared was 
always supposed to be asking, ' WJiat must I do to he saved ! ' 
This question was emphatically asked in the meeting. It was 
found that a most powerful impulse had been given to the 
revival. Nor was this impulse at all weakened by the even- 
ing service. 

" The house was overflowing. You was there. You 
marked the progress of things. Mr. Nettleton that evening 
put forth his mightiest efforts. His discourse was one con- 
tinued flash of conviction. He spoke from that part of Gen- 
esis xix, which treats of the destruction of Sodom. ' Up, get 
ye out of this place,^ was closely and powerfully applied, and 
when he had given a full account of the nature and circum- 
stances of Lot's expostulations with his sons-in-law, he came 
to speak of the awful stillness which remained over Sodom, 
while Lot was taking his leave. Oh, then, when all his warn- 
ings were despised, and they would not believe a word he 
said, then — then when Lot was safely out of Sodom — what a 
terrible storm of fire ensued ! You remember, he turned the 
heads of the audience completely towards the windows. They 
involuntarily looked round to see the conflagration — to see 
Sodom in flames. It was quite overpowering. 

" This was an eventful and glorious day for Pittsfield. 
From that time forward Emmanuel spread his trophies among 
great and small. They who thought to crush the work of 
God were bitterly disappointed, and retired with shame. The 
fruits of this revival are one hundred and forty converts. 
Praise the Lord." 

While Mr. Nettleton was laboring in Pittsfield, he preached 



DE. NETTLE TON. 137 

frequently in Lenox. With what success will appear from 
the following statement of the Rev. Dr. Shepard, pastor of 
the church in that place. 

" In the spring of 1821, Dr. Nettleton came to Pittsfield, in 
consequence of an invitation from Dr. Humphrey. Dr. Net- 
tleton was in poor health, and Dr. Humphrey invited him to 
his house, with the hope, that by being relieved from pressing 
calls, he might recover his health. When Dr. Nettleton first 
came to Pittsfield, he took no part, I believe, in religious 
meetings. After a while, he preached once or twice in the 
course of a week. His preaching was soon attended with a 
divine blessing, and was undoubtedly instrumental of a revival 
of religion in Pittsfield, and several other towns in the vicin- 
ity. When I was from home on a journey, Dr. Nettleton 
preached in Lenox on the Sabbath, and two or three times in 
the course of the week after ; and on my return, I found a 
revival begun, and progressing in the town. Many were 
awakened, and some were rejoicing in hope. He afterwards 
preached occasionally in my parish, as his engagements else- 
where permitted. The number of hopeful converts who were 
received into the church as the fruits of that revival, was ninety- 
one. Almost all of them continued to adorn the doctrine of 
God their Saviour, by the virtues of a sober, righteous, and 
godly life. ' These,^ as I find stated in my church record, 
' These are the fruits of a revival of religion in this town last 
summer. Rev. Asahel Nettleton, was apparently instrumental 
of great good in that season of refreshing from the presence of 
the Lord. May the Lord reward him for his labors of love; 
and may loe as a church, he more humble and prayerful ; and 
may God in his sovereign mercy continue to shed down his 
divim influence here^ 

" You ask, ' what were the characteristics of his preaching, 

and in what did its chief excellencies consist?' I answer. 

He held no protracted meetings ; nor did he adopt any new 

measures apparently for effect. His labors consisted princi- 

12* 



1S8 MEMOIR Of 

pally in preaching the Word. He sometimes appointed what 
was called an inquiry meeting. At such meetings, he man- 
ifested an almost instinctive discernment of character ; and 
his remarks, in accordance with it, were sometimes attended 
with a powerful effect. In his preaching, his humility was 
apparent to all. He was, I believe, eminently a man o{ prayer. 
That he entered the pulpit, or the inquiring meeting directly 
from the ' mount of communion' with his Maker, no one would 
readily doubt, who was witness of the holy calm, the indescrib- 
able, the almost unearthly solemnity and earnestness of his 
manner. His countenance was peculiarly expressive, his 
demeanor, was dignified, and his voice was at times very me- 
lodious. The joy with which his heart seemed to be filled 
by a contemplation of the love of Jesus, in givdng his life a 
ransom for sinners, marked his preaching, and imparted an 
unction and uncommnn energy to his eloquence. When he 
spake of the glories of heaven, it was, almost, as if he had 
been there himself. When he made his appeals to the sinner, 
he made them with a directness, which placed before him, as 
in a mirror, his utterly lost state. It seemed at times, as if he 
was about to uncover the bottomless pit, and to invite the un- 
godly to come and listen to the groans of the damned ; and 
then, drinking deeply of the spirit of his master when he wept 
over Jerusalem, to urge them to flee from the wrath to come, 
with an expression of countenance, which it is not in my 
power to describe. Many who came with a skeptical and 
cavilling spirit to hear him, had their attention arrested at 
once to the great truths communicated by him, and at the close 
of the meeting, were anxiously inquiring w^hat they should do 
to be saved. The success attending his preaching, seemed, 
in short, to be a plain and clear illustration of all the distin- 
guishing doctrines of the gospel, by a humble, devout, pray- 
ing, unpretending man, constrained to his duty by the love of 
Christ. 

^' The influence of the revival upon the interests of the 



DR. NETTLETON. 139 

church in this and other places, was very happy, and is 
plainly to be seen, especially in regard to the faith once deliv- 
ered to the saints, up to this time. The tendency of Dr. Net- 
tleton's preaching, and indeed of all his labors here and else- 
where, as far as I have learned in regard to them, has been to 
establish the churches in the faith and order of the gospel, 
and to strengthen the hands of every clergyman with w^hom 
he labored. I never heard that any minister, among w^hose 
people Dr. Nettleton labored, ever expressed -any regret that 
he had been wdth them. On the contrary, when I at any time 
meet with a minister who formerly had assistance from Dr. 
Nettleton, especially in a season of revival, he never fails to 
express great respect for him, and unfeigned gratitude for the 
benefit derived to him and his people from his labors." 

In the month of August he spent a few days in Lee. In the 
letter of Dr, Hyde, pubhshed in the appendix to Dr. Sprague's 
Lectures on Revivals, there is a brief notice of his labors in 
that town. Dr. Hyde says, " In the summer of 1821, there 
was an evident increase of solemnity in the church and con- 
gregation, and some individuals wereknov/n to be anxious for 
their souls. This appearance continued for several weeks, 
under the same means of grace which the people had long 
enjoyed, but none were found v»'ho rejoiced in hope. The 
church often assembled for prayer, and in the month of August, 
we observed a day of fasting and prayer. The meeting house 
was well filled, and a deep solemnity pervaded the congrega- 
tion. The hearts of many seemed to ' burn within them,' and 
there were increasing indications in the rising cloud, ' of abun- 
dance of rain.' We began to hear from one and another a 
new language, the language of submission to God. 

" Ax this interesting crisis, the Rev. Asahel Nettleton spent 
a few days with us. He preached five sermons to overflow- 
ing assemblies, and his labors were remarkably blessed. The 
Spirit of God came down upon us, ' like a rushing mighty 
wind.' Conversions were frequent, sometimes several in a 



140 MEMOIROr 

day, and the change in the views and feelings of the subjects 
was wonderful. At the suggestion of Mr. Nettleton, 1 now 
instituted what are called inquiry meetings. More than a hun- 
dred persons attended the first. These meetings, as I found 
them to be convenient, were continued through this revival ; 
and I have ever since made use of them, as occasion required, 
sometimes weekly for many months in succession." 

Mr. Nettleton continued his labors in Berkshire count}^ 
making Pittsfield the principal theatre of his operations, until 
about the middle of August, when he returned to Farmington, 
where he spent a few days in delightful intercourse Vv^ith his 
christian friends, and then in the early part of September, 
repaired to Litchfield. He had labored much in Litchfield at 
differeni times previously, in connection with the Rev. Dr. 
Beecher ; but as it was before he began to keep a journal, I 
am unable to fix the dates. His labors at these different 
periods were highly appreciated both by Dr. Beecher and his 
people, and were evidently blessed to the salvation of many 
souls. In the autumn of 1821, Dr. Beecher was obliged to 
suspend his labors, and travel for his health. At this time 
Mr. Nettleton supplied his pulpit from the beginning of Sep- 
tember, till the middle of January, 1822. When he commen- 
ced his labors, he found things in a very unpromising state. 
A bad state of feeling existed in the church, and great spiritual 
apathy pervaded the congregation. But it was not long before 
things began to assume a new aspect. The church seemed 
to awake out of sleep, and to mourn over their backslidings. 
A spirit of prayer was poured out upon the people of God ; 
and sinners began to inquire what they must do to be saved. 

Soon after the revival commenced, some events occurred 
which he feared would divert the attention of the people from 
the great concerns of the soul. One was a cattle show, and 
another a military review. But this unhappy result was pre- 
vented by the blessing of God on his prudent management. 
He particularly feared the effect of the military review on 



DR.NETTLETON. 141 

certain young men who were military officers, and whose 
minds w^ere seriously impressed. He requested those indi- 
viduals to meet him on the morning of that day, at the early 
dawn. They came. He told them that he was conA^nced 
that the Spirit of God was striving with them, but he feared 
that their impressions might be dissipated by the bustle of 
that day. He warned them to be on their guard — to refrain 
from all vain and trifling conversation, and especially to avoid 
tasting a drop of ardent spirits. He then affectionately and 
earnestly commended them to God in prayer. This timely 
warning had the desired effect. 

The following extract of a letter of his, dated Litchfield, 
Oct. 15, 1821, shows the state of the revival at that date. 

" I have attended many meetings of late, and some of them 
Grounded and awfully solemn. More attend meetings than 
can crowd into the lower part of the meeting house — more it 
is said, than usually meet on the Sabbath. I think I may say, 
there is great solemnity throughout this place. A number are 
in. deep distress of soul — some of them men of influence. 
About fourteen are rejoicing in hope. I have ventured to 
appoint one meeting of inquiry. About one hundred attended, 
but they were not all under conviction. We are truly in an 
interesting state, trembling between hope and fear. I wish 
I had time to* tell you a number of anecdotes about us in 
Litchfield . 

In another letter written by him at New Haven, in March, 
1822, he thus speaks of the revival at Litchfield. 

" The number of hopeful converts is about seventy, of whom 
thirty-eight have made a profession of religion. There is 
much christian feeling in that place, and the work is gradually- 
advancing, as a joint letter from a number of the young con- 
verts has recently informed me." 

Jan. 17, 1822, Mr. Nettleton again visited New Haven, 
and labored with great success in the city and college, be- 



i 42 MEMOIR OF 

tween two and three months. The following is an extract of 
a letter written by him at New Haven, March 20, 1822. 

" After more than a year's absence, I have come a^gain to 
New Haven. In the first place, I made an appointment ex- 
clusively for young converts, in a spacious ball-room, where 
we used to hold meetings of inquiry. Though the evening 
was dark and muddy, about three hundred assembled. Here 
we called to mind, the sighs, and sobs, and songs, and joys 
that are past — scenes never to be forgotten. And when I 
spoke of three of their number, who used to mingle their tears 
and joys with theirs on that floor, but whose faces we should 
see no more, for they had gone triumphantly to rest, it was 
truly melting. We knelt, and wept, and prayed together. 

" I did not intend to tarry long in this place ; but I have 
preached more than twenty times, and attended a number of 
inquiry meetings — at one, one hundred and sixty attended. 
There are seventeen recently rejoicing in hope, and five of 
them are students in college." 

On May 12, 1822, Mr. Nettleton commenced his labors in 
Somers. He labored in this town and South Wilbrahara, 
alternately, occasionally preaching at Tolland and some other 
towns in the vicinity, until the following October, when his 
labors were suddenly arrested by a dangerous^ sickness. A 
powerful revival of religion commenced under his preaching 
at Somers, which spread into the surrounding region. The 
Rev. William L. Strong, was pastor of the church in Somers. 
In a letter to the editor of the Religious Intelligencer, dated 
August 1st, 1822, he gives the following account of the state 
of things among his people, and the people of South Wilbra- 
ham, an adjoining town. 

" Dear Sir — I am prompted by my own feelings, and by a 
knowledge of your solicitude to communicate to the public, 
such information as relates to the enlargement of Christ's 
kingdom, to announce the fact that God is in the midst of us, 



DR.NETTLETON. 143 

displaying the wonders of his grace. About eight weeks 
since, it began to be manifest that the Spirit was moving upon 
the hearts of God's people, and that sinners were no longer 
indifTerent to the momentous question of the trembling jailor. 
Soon the voice of distress was heard ; and soon too it was 
mingled with that of rejoicing and praise. The work has 
been still and powerful. Between ninety and a hundred are 
rejoicing in hope. At our last meeting of anxious inquiry, 
about one hundred and seventy were present, including sixty 
who hope that they have recently passed from death unto life. 
The work is still spreading and has, perhaps, never been 
more interesting than at the present moment. 

" In South Wilbraham, adjoining this place on the north, 
God is also doing a great work. Nearly forty have, within a 
few weeks, taken up hopes, and the revival is extending itself 
with singular power. These are the Lord's doings, and they 
are marvelous in our eyes. To him be all the glory. 
Yours very respectfully, 

Wm. L. Strong." 

There is a somewhat detailed account of the revival in 
South Wilbraham, published in the seventh volume of the 
Religious Intelligencer, from which I extract the following. 

" In the early part of May last, the Rev. A. Nettleton, 
(who, under the providence of God, has been the great in- 
strument in this work,) retired from New Haven to Somers, 
the town adjoining this on the South, for the purpose of recov- 
ering his strength, which was much impaired by sickness. A 
few weeks after he arrived, a report reached this people, that 
there was some religious excitement at Somers ; and that a 
Mr. Nettleton was there attending one or two evening meet- 
tings during the week. Indeed, it was shortly announced, 
that there were several persons anxious for their souls. 
Awakened by principles of curiosity, some of the young peo- 
ple of this place, concluded to go down and test the verity of 



144 . MEMOIR OF 

these reports. The evening fixed upon was Friday, June 21 ; 
and a number, at an early hour, repaired to the house of wor- 
ship in Somers. To their astonishment, they found a crowd- 
ed audience, and awful solemnity pervading it. The subject 
of humble submission to Christ, was effectually enforced. To 
some of these visitors, it proved to be a word in season. One 
young person was in such deep anxiety, as to be unable to 
return, and therefore, tarried in one of the families in the 
neighborhood. The next day she expressed a hope of hav- 
ing passed from death to life. This, together with other cir- 
cumstances, awakened with Mr. Nettleton an interest in the 
people of South Wilbraham, which I may safely add, was by 
many, heartily reciprocated. Express invitations were, at this 
time, as well as previously, forvv^arded by the minister and 
individuals of this people, urging Mr. Nettleton to visit South 
Wilbraham. 

" Tuesday, 25, Mr. Nettleton this afternoon, for the first 
time, consented to have an appointment made for him in the 
village hall at South Wilbraham, at sun-set. 

" This appointment, though of few hours previous notice, 
like an electric shock, reached every extremity of the society. 
At the set time, the hall was literally crowded, and multitudes 
yet assembling. Mr. Nettleton took his station, from which, 
in the hall, little else was to be seen than a dense surface of 
expressive countenances ; and at the same time, from the 
windows might be seen trees and roofs of adjacent buildings, 
occupied by anxious hearers. Subject— Ground of alarm to 
awakened sinners. Many were awakened to anxiety this 
evening. During this and several succeeding weeks he 
labored alternately in South Wilbraham and Somers. 

" July 9. At the close of public services this evening, 
several of our most interesting youth were deeply affected 
with a sense of their situation as sinners. One young female, 
who had sacrificed many of the evenings of the winter past 
in the ball-room, and who highly valued her excellency in 



D R . N E T T L E T O N . 1 45 

that amusement, was this evenmg overwhelmed with a sense 
of her guilt. As she dwelt some distance from the village, 
she was invited by one of her companions residing near, to 
spend the night with her. At the midnight hour, a request 
was sent to Mr. Nettleton to repair to this house. It was 
thronged with spectators to the scene of distress there ex- 
hibited. He found this young female sustained in the arms 
of her friends, and in a piteous and doleful tone, repeatedly 
exclaiming, ' Lord Jesus, have mercy on my soul.' The 
next day, while in a circle of young persons with whom Mr. 
Nettleton was conversing, she with one or two others, ex- 
pressed joy and peace in believing. 

" Thursday, 11. This afternoon Mr. Nettleton met sixty 
or eighty in an anxious meeting — an awful scene of distress. 
From this we repaired to the church, where he addressed us 
on the danger of grieving the Spirit of God. It v/as indeed 
a heart-searching subject. The sighs and sobs of anxious 
sinners were to be heard from every part of the house. 
When the speaker dismissed his audience, a large number 
rushed toward him, as if expecting assistance from an arm of 
flesh. In this situation, Mr. Nettleton addressed them about 
five minutes, and requested them to retire as silently as possi- 
ble. Some individuals were so overwhelmed with a sense of 
eternal realities, that it became necessary to urge, and even 
assist them home. 

" The whole number expressing hope at this time, is about 
one hundred.* Sixty-five are propounded as candidates for 
admission to the church on the first Sabbath of October next. 

" This revival has extended its influence to many of the 
adjacent towns. In Somers and Tolland, there are two hun- 
dred and fifty subjects, hopefully." 

At the close of the foregoing account, mention is made of 
Tolland. Here Mr. Nettleton labored considerably and with 
great success, in the months of xA.ugust and September. 

* This account is dated Sept. 25, 3822. 
13 



146 MEMOIR OF 

The following extract of a letter written by him, November 
27, 1823, shows that this revival became very extensive in 
the eastern part of Connecticut. 

" The revival of religion in the eastern part of the State of 
Connecticut, has, perhaps, never been more interesting, than 
within a few weeks past. I propose to give you the outlines 
of this work, from the commencement, down to the present. 
It has heretofore been a common remark among christians, 
that revivals have been much less frequent, and less powerful 
in the eastern, than in the western part of this state. Most of 
these churches, in years past, have been favored with seasons 
more or less reviving, but never with such a general and pow- 
erful refreshing from the presence of the Lord. This work 
commenced in Somers, June, 1822; and has continued in- 
creasing and spreading like fire, from house to house, and 
from heart to heart, with more or less power and rapidity, 
until the present moment. The following towns are contigu- 
ous, and have shared in one extensive revival. 

" In Somers, one hundred and fifty have hopefully been 
made the subjects of divine grace. In South Wilbraham, one 
hundred. In Tolland, one hundred and thirty. In North 
Coventy, one hundred and twenty. In South Coventry, North 
Mansfield, and South Mansfield, about one hundred in each. 
In Columbia, forty. In Lebanon, ninety. In Goshen, thirty. 
In Bozrah, between sixty and seventy. In Montville, ninety. 
In Chaplin, fifty. Tho work has recently commenced, and 
is advancing with power in Hampton, and within a few weeks, 
fifty or more are rejoicing in hope. Within a few weeks 
past, the Spirit of God has descended with overwhelmino- 
power in Millington, and Colchester. In the former place, 
aboat seventy, and in the latter, sixty are already rejoicing in 
hope. They have never before witnessed the like, in rapid- 
ity, power, and extent. In the above cluster of towns, all 
contiguous, more than thirteen hundred souls have hopefully 
experienced a saving change, in the Congregational churches. 



DR.NETTLETON. 147 

since the commencenient of this revival ; and of these, more 
than eight hundred have already made a profession of religion. 

" In Chatham, also, the work is interesting ; about seventy- 
are rejoicing in hope, and fifty or more have made a public 
profession. In Hampton, Colchester and Millington, many 
are now anxious for their souls, and inquiring, what must we 
do to he saved ? 

" NeAv instances of conviction, and of hopeful conversion, 
are daily occurring in these towns. The prospect of the 
continuance and spread of this work, is as favorable now, as at 
any period, if not more so. The Lord hath done great things 
for Zion, whereof we are glad, and let all her friends humbly 
rejoice, and bow and give thanks and exalt his name to- 
gether." 



CHAPTER IX. 

Sickness at Bolton— Compilation of Hymn Book — Labors in Bethlehem, Brooklyn, 
Taunton, Jamaica, Albany, Durham, Lexington, Vii-ginia, Monson, North Carolina, 
Newark, New York— Voyage to England— Labors in Enfield— Formation of the 
Pastoral Union — Establishment of the Theological Institute of Connecticut— Ap- 
pointment as professor — The degree of D. D. confeiTed upon him. 

For ten or eleven years, Mr. Nettieton had been laboring 
almost constantly in revivals of religion. During this time, 
he preached, generally, three sermons on the Sabbath, and 
several dm'ing the week, besides spending much time in visit- 
ing from house to house, and conversing with individuals on 
the concerns of their souls. How he could endure such accu- 
mulated labors, was a mystery to many. Undoubtedly his 
constitution was so impaired by these labors, as to render it 
impossible to recover from the shock of disease by Avhich he 
was attacked in 1822. It pleased God in the fall of that year, 
to arrest his labors, and to lay him on a bed of sickness. 

It appears from a memorandum among his papers, that on 
Oct. 5th, 1822, he visited a sick person, in South VVilbraham, 
before breakfast, and took the typhus fever. He was sick at 
Bolton, at the house of his friend, Mr. Parmele. He was 
brought so low that his life was despaired of, both by himself 
and by his friends. His mind was composed and peaceful. 
As he afterwards remarked, the scenes of the revivals in which 
he had been engaged, and the countenances of the young 
converts, were constantly before him ; and the hymns and 
tunes in which he had been greatly interested, were running 
in his mind ; particularly those words : 



DR. NETTLETON. 149 

"■ Soon shall I pass the gloomy vale, 
Soon all my mortal powers must fail, 
O, may my last expiring breath, 
His loving-kindness sing in death." 

From this sickness, he never entirely recovered. He was 
never after able to engage in arduous labor. 

While in a very feeble state at Bolton, he received many 
letters from brethren at a distance, containing urgent requests 
that he would come and assist them. This induced the Rev. 
Mr. Calhoun, of Coventry, to publish the following note in 
the Religious Intelligencer, for April 5th, 1823. 

" Mr. Whiting — I am requested, through the medium of 
your paper, to state to the religious public, that the Rev. Asahel 
Nettleton remains at Bolton, laboring under those bodily infir- 
mities, which render him incapable of engaging in the active 
duties of his profession. The prospect of his speedy recov- 
ery is not favorable. And it is satisfactorily ascertained that 
he experiences essential injury from the numerous and press- 
ing requests for his assistance, which he receives from differ- 
ent places. The christian friends of Mr. Nettleton, it is 
believed, would confer a favor on him, and would consult the 
best interests of the church, to suspend their communications 
for the present, and suffer him to remain undisturbed in his 
retired situation. Yours, 

George A. Calhoun." 

While Mr. Nettleton was sick at Bolton, hi^ friend Mr. 
Parmele took the fever of him and died. Mrs. Parmele was 
also very sick. An interesting obituary notice of Mr. Par- 
mele, written by Mr. Nettleton, was published in the 7th 
volume of the Religious Intelligencer. 

The following letter, written by Mr. Nettleton to a number 
of young converts in Wilbraham, will be read with interest. 

" Bolton, March 4th, 1823. 
" My very dear Friends. — Some time in December last, I 
received a very affectionate letter, signed by fourteen names, 
13* 



150 M E M O I R F 

never to be forgotten. It contained a friendly invitation to me 
to go to Wilbraham, as soon as able, and there receive the 
kind offices of christian friendship. As I read the letter, and 
dwelt with delight on each name, the interesting scenes 
through which we had passed together, rushed full on my 
view. Had it been possible, most gladly would I have ac- 
cepted your invitation ; and I should almost esteem it a priv- 
ilege to be sick, if surrounded by such a circle of friends. 

" A few days since, I received another token of friendship, 
enclosed in a letter from one of the number of that same circle. 
You will please to accept my sincere thanks for this, and all 
your former acts of kindness. 

" '' I need not inform you, my dear friends, of the trying 
scenes through which I have been called to pass since my last 
visit in Wilbraham. But our mercies are greater than our 
afflictions. Never did I experience so much kindness from 
friends as during my late sickness. I have often thought that 
their kindness has contributed much towards my restoration. 
It certainly contributed much to the health of my mind, by its 
cheering consolation. My spirits were better than they have 
formerly been, while in usual health. I have somewhere seen 
an expression like this — ' The sympathy of friends in afflic- 
tion, charms away half the wo.' This I have found to be 
true by experience. But the most trying of all, was my part- 
ing with our friend, Mr. Parmele. Born the same year — in 
the same town — anxious for his soul, and having made a pro- 
fession of religion at the same time with myself, he was my 
nearest friend. Often have we met, and prayed, and wept, 
and rejoiced together in revivals of religion. 

" I hope you will not forget the interesting scenes of last 
summer. I think I shall not. Revivals appear the most im- 
portant on a sick and dying bed. And thither we are rapidly 
hastening. I wish I had strength to tell you my views and 
feelings since I read your last. During my deepest distress, 
I was in the midst of revivals. The tune, ' Loving Kindness,'- 



DH. NETTLETON, 15 1 

ran sweetly through my mind again and again, thousands of 
times, connected with the two last verses of the eighth hymn. 
This I often mentioned to my friends, as also the 324th hymn.* 
I do not recover my health as fast as my friends have been 
expecting. I have not strength to answer all the kind letters 
I receive from my friends. It is with difficulty that 1 .have 
written this. My love to all my dear friends, and tell them 
how much I long to see them. 

" Mr S is now preaching in Coventry. He calls fre- 
quently to see me, and we talk over the scenes of last summer 
with peculiar delight. The revival which commenced in your 
region last summer, is still spreading, and advancing with 
power in Coventry, both societies. Let us not forget to pray 
that it may continue. And now I entreat you all to live near 
to God. Love one another. Live in peace, and the God of 
love and peace shall be with you. 

" I am ever yours in the best bonds." 

For two years, Mr. Nettleton very rarely preached. Dur- 
ing this period, he took a voyage to Machias, Me., and a 
journey to Montreal. The following letter was written to 
xMrs. Parmele, soon after his return from Canada. It is dated 
Greenwich, Conn., iVug. 27th, 1824. 

" My Dear Friend — Yours of the 17th inst. I found at New 
York, on my return from my long journey. I accept of the 
kindness, but my conscience will not allow me to retain the en- 
closed. I have nothing special to communicate. I suppose 
brother King informed you of my journey to Montreal. It is 
more than 400 miles from New York. I went in company 
with Dr. McAuley and others. On our return we came by 
Saratoga Springs. I was quite sick, and by the advice ot 
friends, I was persuaded to remain there a fortnight, during 
which time I recruited in some measure. I came to New 
York in the steamboat last Saturday. I am now thirty miles 



♦ He probably here refers to the Hartford Collection of Hymns. 



152 MEMOIR OF 

this side of the city, at the house of the Rev. Mr. Lewis, 
where I have been two nights. I may tarry here two or three 
days longer, and then hope to go to Hartford. I do not preach. 
You must pardon me for the brevity and poverty of this letter, 
for it still pains me to write. There is an interesting revival 
in Salem, Ms.; but nothing special in this region. I attended 
the funeral of brother Whelpley while in New York. The 
time is short. I exceedingly regret the loss of so much pre- 
cious time. If your health will permit, I trust you will be 
diligently employed in doing good. If I were not so idle 
myself, I would tell you that it is good to be busily employed 
about something. 

" In haste — Yours as ever." 

Before he was taken sick, Mr. Nettleton had formed the 
purpose of compiling a hymn book ; and had done something 
towards collecting the materials. As soon as he had so far 
recovered from his sickness, as to be able to read and write 
a little, he entered on this work. He finished it in the early 
part of 1824. 

The reasons which induced him to undertake this work, are 
thus stated in his preface : 

" With great satisfaction and pleasure have I often heard 
the friends of the Redeemer express their unqualified attach- 
ment to the sacred poetry of Dr. Watts. Most cordially do I 
unite with them in the hope, that no selection of hymns which 
has ever yet appeared, may be suffered to take the place of 
his inimitable productions. 

" Deficiencies, however, he unquestionably has. Numer- 
ous have been the attempts to supply them ; but hitherto, the 
judicious have been constrained to regret that these attempts 
have succeeded only in part. Whether the book, here pub- 
lished, will add something to that supply, is submitted to the 
decision of the religious community. 

" The compiler does not overlook the valuable labors of 
those who have preceded him in this department ; while he 



D R . N E T T L E T O N . 153 

concurs in the opinion, very generally adopted by his brethren 
in the ministry, that the various benevolent operations, and 
especially the prevalence of revivals, which are so character- 
istic of the present day, demand a new selection of Hymns. 

" In the year 1820, the General Association of Connecticut 
appointed a committee to devise measures for the prosperity 
of religion within their limits. I well remember that at a 
meeting of that committee, the first item proposed was a new 
selection of Hymns. Four years, nearly, have elapsed, and 
nothing has been done pursuant to their appointment. 

" When in the providence of God, I had the happiness of 
spending a short season, as a laborer for Christ, within the 
limits of the Albany Presbytery, the call for such a work in 
that region, and, as I learned from the most respectable 
sources, very extensively in the west and south, was not less 
imperious and pressing, than in the districts where I had been 
more particularly conversant. In personal experience, and 
discoveries of this description, originated the resolution to un- 
dertake the work. The compilation here presented is the 
result. The task has occupied my attention much of the time 
for nearly two years. Especially has it cheered and com- 
forted me, during the long continued retirement to which a 
severe sickness subjected me. 

" The book, whatever may be its defects, is now most 
affectionately presented 

' To Zion's friends, and mine.' " 

The Village Hymns have had a very extensive circulation, 
and have, it is believed, been instrumental of great good. 

Mr. Nettleton, as has already been observed, was never 
able, after his sickness, to engage in arduous labor. For the 
first two years he rarely preached at all. After that, he was 
not able to preach constantly — sometimes only once on the 
Sabbath — sometimes twice, without attending many extra 
meetings, or devoting much time to visiting from house to 



154 MEMOIR OF 

house. Still he was able to do something for the church, and 
his labors, in not a few instances, were accompanied with a 
divine blessing. 

In the autumn of 1824, an interesting revival commenced 
under his preaching in Bethlem. He continued in this place, 
assisting the pastor, the Rev. Mr. Langdon, who was sick, 
until his strength failed, and he was obliged to suspend his 
labors. 

In a letter to Mrs. Parmele, of Bolton, dated New York, 
April 18th, 1825, he says, "The occasion of my first visit to 
Bethlem, was to see brother Langdon who was sick, and who 
had not preached for six months. He was thinking about 
asking a dismission when I arrived ; but he postponed it. I 
preached for him two or three months. As many as eighty 
persons assembled at his house occasionally, at a meeting of 
inquiry, of whom about forty are rejoicing in hope. The bur- 
den of anxiety on my mind became so great that I could en- 
dure it no longer, and so 1 left them. Having some business 
which could be done in this city better than any where else, I 
accepted an invitation to spend the winter and spring here in 
retirement. I am so much retired, that my friends here say, 
I will not visit, nor be visited ; and yet I have spent three- 
fourths of my time and strength in receiving visits." 

In the spring of 1825, he preached considerably and with 
success, in Brooklyn, L. I. 

In the summer of 1825, he preached in Taunton, Ms. Here 
his labors were made effectual to the conviction and conver- 
sion of sinners. The parish in which he preached, was at 
that time destitute of a pastor. 

In the fall of the same year, he commenced laboring with 
the Rev. Mr. Cobb, in another parish in Taunton. In a letter 
to a friend, dated Taunton, Dec. 26th, 1825, he says : 

" The state of things in this society has become quite in- 
teresting of late. Meetings are crowded and solemn as eter- 
nity. A number have called to see us in deep distress of 



DR. NETTLETON. 155 

soul. Some of them told us that they received their first im- 
pressions down at the green last summer. The fire was 
already kindled, and has recently burst into a fiame in this part 
of the town. The number of inhabitants in this society, is 
comparatively small ; and yet, last Saturday evening, we met 
about sixty in the meeting of inquiry. About thirty are re- 
joicing in hope. Of these, some are youth of the first respect- 
ability, and four or five men of influence. Old professors of 
religion tell us they never saw such a time before." 

The following statement of iMr. Cobb w411 be read with in- 
terest : 

" Brother Nettleton came to Taunton in the summer of 1825, 
and the Trinitarian church in this town being destitute, by the 
decease of their beloved pastor, the Rev. Chester Isharn, he 
labored two months and a half in that congregation. The 
prospect of a general and powerful revival of religion was 
very fair. About thirty converts were the fruit of his labors 
among that people. In this state of things, a candidate for 
settlement was procured, who subsequently became their pas- 
tor. Brother Nettleton retired, and came to live in my fami- 
ly the first of October, and continued with me till the middle 
of January, 1826. 

" There had for weeks previous been a solemn stillness in 
my congregation, and many had been specially awakened, 
though they had kept their impressions to themselves. When 
brother Nettleton commenced his labors, the revival immedi- 
ately became manifest, and converts w^ere multiplied almost 
daily during his stay. 

" His sermons were clear, sound, able, full of thought, 
direct and simple, with unity of design. ' He seemed to be 
destined to be understood.' He enlisted the hearts and hands 
of all the church, and especially the aged members — -our 
fathers who were well informed, and who had borne the burden 
and heat of the day. It was surprising to see what overpow- 
erinsf influence his kindness, devotion and faithfulness had 



156 :\j E M O I R G F 

upon all, old and yonrig, saints and sinners. In this state of 
things, there seemed to be a very bright prospect of a glorious 
harvest. It was manifest that brother Nettleton had ready 
access to every conscience. As the revival progressed, he 
preached more and more closely and doctrinally. ' The great 
truths of the gospel,' were the weapons of his warfare, and 
were wielded with a spirit and an energy, which the people 
were unable to gainsay or resist. He was remarkably clear 
and forcible in his illustrations of the sinner's total depravity, 
and his utter inability to procure salvation by unregenerate 
works, or any desperate efforts. He showed the sinner that 
his unregenerate prayers for anew heart, his impenitent seek- 
ing, striving and knocking would be of no avail ; and that ab- 
solute, unconditional submission to a sovereign God, was the 
first thing to be done. To this duty the sinner was urged 
immediately with great power and conclusiveness of argu- 
ment. 

" His visits among the people were frequent, but short and 
profitable. He entered immediately on the subject of the sal- 
vation of the soul, and the great importance of attending to it 
without delay. He did not customarily propound questions, 
and require answers, lest by this means he should turn the 
attention of sinners from their own wretched state, by leading 
them to think ' how they should reply to the minister.' He 
was so well acquainted with the human heart, that he seemed 
to have an intuitive perception of what was passing in the 
minds of those whom he was addressing. Thus he could so 
direct his conversation as to produce silence and self-condem- 
nation, and confine their thoughts to their own lost and ruined 
state, sometimes remarking, ' You have no time to spend in 
conversation, before the salvation of the soul is secured,' 

" When any indulged a hope which was not satisfactory, 
he would say, ' you had better give it up, and seek your sal- 
vation in earnest.' Well versed in all the doctrinal and ex- 
perimental parts of the gospel ; feeling deeply in his own 



DR. NETTLETOX, 157 

heart the power of divine truth, he was qualified, beyond most, 
to judge of the character of others' experience ; and though 
mild and conciliatory in his manner, he was faithful in his 
warnings against false hopes and spurious conversions. All 
selfish considerations in the concerns of the soul he discard- 
ed ; and he never used any art or cunning to entrap, or pro- 
duce commitment on the part of sinners. In the anxious 
circle he was short, direct in his remarks, concluding with a 
short and fervent prayer ; directing his petitions solely to God, 
and not displaying eloquence, or seeking to fascinate the con- 
gregation. He seemed to lose sight of man, and to be absorb- 
ed in a sense of the divine presence. 

" In his intercourse with the people, he invariably produced 
favorable impressions on their minds in regard to their own 
pastor. He was not the leader^ but only an assistant in the 
work. My people never before entertained and cherished so 
high, and so affectionate a regard for their pastor, as in this 
revival ; and when he left us in the midst of it, such was the 
effect of his course in this respect, there was scarcely a word 
of inquiry respecting brother Nettleton, and the work went on 
as though he were with us. 

" In his daily habits in my family, he was constantly em- 
ployed in searching the scriptures, or in conversation on re- 
ligious topics — discussing doctrinal points, or matters relating 
to christian experience. He was in this way very social, and 
an exceedingly agreeable companion. 

" In his sermons, of which I heard sixty, he was, in man- 
ner, simple. He spoke with a clear voice — rather slow and 
hesitating at first, but gradually rising, till before the close, it 
was like a mighty torrent bearing down all before it. His 
eloquence was peculiar to himself, and consisted in conveying 
his own views and feelings to the minds of others. He 
never failed to impress his own ideas upon his hearers. 
As the revival became more interesting and powerful, he 
preached more doctrinally. He brought from his treasure the 
14 



158 



MEMOIR OP 



doctrines of total depravity, personal election, reprobation, the 
sovereignty of divine grace, and the universal government of 
God in working all things after the counsel of his own will. 
And these great doctrines did not paralyze, but greatly pro- 
7noted the good work. Never had brother Nettleton such 
power over my congregation, as when he poured forth, in 
torrents, these awful truths. And at no time were converts 
multiplied so rapidly, and convictions and distress so deep, as 
when these doctrines were pressed home to the conscience. 
One evening, while our house of worship was filled to over- 
flowing, he preached on the doctrine of election, and the peo- 
ple were so held by the power of truth, that when in the midst 
of the sermon, an intoxicated Universalist stepped within the 
door, and cried out with a stentorian voice, and Vith a horrid 
oath, ' that's a lie,' scarcely an eye was turned from the speak- 
er towards the door. 

" The above remarks will serve to give a general idea of 
the character of this revival. The work was still, and after 
the lapse of nineteen years, we are satisfied that the converts 
were generally, truly renewed in the spirit of their minds. 
They appear still to believe and love the doctrines of grace 
by which they were begotten to the hope of the gospel ; and 
they have walked in newness of life. 

" The influence which that precious revival exerted upon 
the church and society, has been good ; and men who were 
not subjects of it, have been confirmed in their belief of the 
truth ; and their convictions that revivals may be evidently 
the work of God, have been deep and lasting ; and they speak 
of that season as a day of divine power and grace," 

The following letter to Mr. Cobb, written by Mr. Nettleton 
soon after he left Taunton, will show how deeply his own 
feelings were enlisted in the work of grace, above described. 
It is dated New York, Feb. 6, 1826. 

"My dear brother: — Yours of the 30th ult. was receiA^ed 
last Friday. It was truly refreshing to me, and to many of 



DR. NETTLETON, 159 

my friends. 1 cannot express the joy I felt on hearing the 
number and the names of some who entertained hope since 
you wrote last. The young converts and the anxious ones 
have scarcely been out of my mind since I left Taunton. 
Your letter contains more than I had reason to expect, but my 
mind will not rest satisfied without possessing the names of 
all who have found the Saviour. When I left you, brother 
Cobb, I did not feel confident the work would continue ; but 
I did not think it would be so rapid. The family where I 
reside, have become so interested in the state of things with 
you, that they occasionally mention you and your people in 
their prayers. I think you will do well to note facts and 
dates as you pass along. You will find them useful hereafter. 
You will prepare an account for the Connecticut Observer, or 
some other paper, ere long. My heart has been %vith you 
ever since I left, and I was really in hopes of making you a 
short visit, at least. But I am sorry to say, I have been very 
sick with a fever, and for twelve hours, considered dangerous. 
I am surrounded with kind friends, and have every thing I 
could wish. I feel much better to-day, or I should not be 
able to write. The physician says, it will take some time 
for me to recover. I do hope you will give me some account 
from week to week of the state of things with you. I fear I 
shall not be able to labor any where during the two following 
months of inclement weather. If you cannot obtain help, 
and are unwell yourself, get together, if you only say jive 
icords, and pray five minutes. Meet the anxious once a week, 
if you can only pray with them. Give my love to all the 
young converts, and to all the anxious. Tell the latter, that I 
have not forgotten them — that they hare scarcely been out of 
my mind since 1 saw them in the circle. They must never 
drop the subject. They will never have another such op- 
portunity." 

On the 17th of March, a little more than a month after the 



1 60 M E M O I R O F 

date of the foregoing letter, he wrote again to Mr. Cobb, as 

follows : 

" My dear brother — The lapse of time does by no means 
lessen the interest v/hich I have felt in forming an acquaint- 
ance with yourself, and family, and the people of your charge. 
Not a day, or a night has passed, since 1 parted with you, 
when those interesting scenes in which we mutually shared, 
of sorrows mid joys that are past, have not been, fresh in my 
mind. Brother, these are scenes never to be forgotten. 
Other trifles may occupy our time and absorb the thought, and 
feelings of our heart for a season, and be forgotten, or re- 
membered only with regret. But oh, the scenes through 
which you are now passing, will follow you down through 
the track of time, and are forgotten never. I sympathize with 
you in all the sorrows and joys inseparable from the duties of 
a faithful pastor, at such a season. Now, more than ever, 
will be realized the weight of your responsibility. 

* 'T is not a cause of small import, 

The pastor's care demands ; 
But what might fill an angel's heart, 

It fill'd a Saviour's hands.' 

" I was pleased with the solemn stillness, the readiness to 
act, the apparent interest, and the decision of the members of 
your church. Were I present, I would affectionately say to 
them — be humble__be thankful for what God has already 
done — ' keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace' — 
pray much and fervently for the continued outpouring of the 
Spirit — do not feel satisfied with what has already been done. 
Brethren, pray for us — for your pastor, that the word of God 
may continue to have free course and be glorified. 

" I cannot forget that interesting circle which used to meet 
to consult on the great concerns of the soul. Often have I 
fancied myself seated in the midst of that same circle — some 
weeping — and some rejoicing in hope. Their countenances 



DR.NETTLETON. 161 

are all familiar to my mind. With what feelings of affection 
and solemnity, and compassion, havg I bowed together with 
you, my friends, around the throne of grace. While thus 
employed, often have I thought, shall we ever meet in heaven, 
around the throne of God and the Lamb ? Shall we be com- 
panions forever, in that world of unclouded glory? The 
thoughts of such a meeting seem almost too much for such 
sinners as ourselves. But I know it is possible ; and the 
vilest of sinners are invited. Some of the chief of sinners 
will repent, and be pardoned and saved ; and why not such 
sinners as ourselves 1 Ah, none but sinners are saved, and 
some of the chief of sinners have already been saved. And 
I cannot but indulge the pleasing hope, that some — that many 
of your circle will meet in that world, where pilgrims meet to 
part no more. Let all those who indulge this heavenly hope 
themselves, come out from the world, and by their conduct 
and conversation, declare plainly that they seek a better coun- 
try. You have yet to encounter the dangers of the wilder- 
ness, and you will need the whole armor of God. You who 
have long been companions in sin, will now become compan- 
ions, helping one another on your way to the heavenly Zion. 

* Invite the strangers all around, 

Your pious march to join ; 
And spread the sentiments you feel, 

Of faith and love divine.' 

" I cannot forget those anxious souls, who are still out of 
Christ. With joy have I heard the tidings of many, whom I 
left anxious for their souls. But I have the names of a num- 
ber now before me, of whom no such tidings have been told. 
Where are they ? Have they gone back to the world ? My 
dear friends, if you have not already given your hearts to 
Christ, once more, from this far distant region, would I lift up 
my voice, and warn you by the worth of your souls, to flee 
from the wrath to come. I entreat you not to rest till you 

14* 



162 MEMOIR OF 

find rest in Christ. I have not forgotten you. I shall still 
remember you at the throne of grace, till the joyful tidings of 
your repentance have reached ray ears ; or the sorrowful 
tidings that you have dropped the subject of religion, and 
gone back to the world. 

" Ever yours, in the best of bonds." 

In 1826, although in very feeble health, God made him the 
instrument of a great work of divine grace in Jamaica, L. I. 
He commenced his labors in that town, on the 24th of Febru- 
ary, and continued to labor there until November. The peo- 
ple, when he first came among them, were very much divided ; 
but under his judicious management, their divisions were 
healed. He preached on Sabbath morning, and in the even- 
ing ; omitting the usual afternoon exercise. And although 
he could not attend many extra meetings, or spend much time 
in visiting the people ; yet there is reason to believe that God 
made him instrumental in the salvation of many souls. 

In his journal, under date of May 8th, he speaks of fifty 
rejoicing in hope. 

In a letter to his friend Mr. Cobb, of Taunton, dated July 
1 3lh, he says, " My head, heart and hands are so full, and 
health so feeble, that I have dispensed with every business, 
except what was absolutely indispensable. Since you left 
us, we have been much employed in listening to the relation 
of christian experience by the young converts, preparatory to 
a public profession of religion. For a few weeks past, we 
have attended to little else. Had you been present, you 
would have been interested, if not delighted. On the 2nd of 
July, we held our communion, and seventy-two were added 
by profession, and three by letter. The assembly w^as full, 
and very solemn. Eighteen were baptized. Since that day, 
the revival has received a new impulse. Many were awak- 
ened, who have since come out joyful. It has often been 
observed, that it seeme.d like the judgment day. We have 



DR. NETTLETON. 163 

had but few meetings of inquiry since you left us. At our 
last, including young converts, there were about one hundred 
and forty. The work was never more interesting than at this 
time. A number of strangers from other towns have visited 
us, and have gone home rejoicing in hope, and others are in 
deep distress. If I continue long in this place, I think of 
appropriating one evening in the week to visiting a circle of 
strangers. You would be delighted with our assembly. We 
have long since been crowded out of our session house. Our 
meetings are now generally held in the church. Many pro- 
fessors, as well as young converts, say, we never knew what 
there was in religion before. ' Old things are passed away, 
and all things are become new.' Although a great proportion 
of this population are still strangers to the power of religion, 
yet there is little or no apparent opposition. Many who are 
left, are struck with solemn awe, and for their own credit, 
are constrained to plead the cause of God. ' Then said they 
among the heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them' 
" I have by no means forgotten the young disciples in 
Taunton, nor those I left anxious for their souls. How I do 
long to see you, and all my friends in Taunton once more. I 
can only say, ' Let your conversation be as becometh the gospel 
of Christy that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I 
may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, ivith 
one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.^ 

" Yours in the bonds of the Gospel." 

The following statement has appeared in the New York 
Observer, since the publication of the first edition of the me- 
moir. As it strikingly illustrates Dr. Nettleton's manner of 
dealing with sinners in different states of mind, it is deemed 
worthy of being preserved. 

" In perusing the life of Mr. Nettleton, I have had brought 
vividly to my recollection, scenes and circumstances con- 
nected with the revival of religion in Jamaica in 1826, of 



164 ME M O 1 R O F 

deep interest to me, and although more than eighteen years 
have passed, their interest is as deep as ever, and I think, 
strikingly illustrates the v^isdom and the prudence of that 
truly wonderful man in dealing with awakened sinners. 

" The first time I ever saw Mr. Nettleton was on a com- 
munion Sabbath in the early part of the winter of 1826. 
Two strangers entered the church, and, walking slowly up 
the aisle, seated themselves in the front pew. Many eyes 
were fastened upon them ; and after service, as is common in 
the country, many inquiries were made as to who they were, 
for they were evidently clergymen. It was some time, before 
I learned that one of them was the ' Rev. Mr. Nettleton, the 
great revival preacher.' The church in Jamaica, as is men- 
tioned in the memoir, had been greatly divided. We were 
literally two bands hostile to each other, and bitter in feeling. 
The Apostle might have said of us, we were hateful, and 
hating one another ; and there seemed but little prospect of 
our ever being any better. It was but a sad spectacle on that 
day presented to this man of God. 

When, a few days after, I heard that Mr. Nettleton, the 
revival preacher, was soon going to preach for us, I never 
shall forget my feelings. I determined I would not hear him, 
and especially so, w^hen an old disciple, long since in glory, 
Mr. Othniel Smith, who had listened with rapture to George 
Whitefield seventy years before, when he preached in Jamai- 
ca, said to me — ' This Mr. Nettleton that is going to preach 
for us is a most wonderful man ; he is said to be the greatest 
preacher that has been among us since the days of George 
Whitefield.' He said further, that, from what he had heard 
of him, he believed he could almost read a man^s heart, so 
wonderful was his knowledge of human nature. I well re- 
member I secretly said, ' He shall not see my heart, for I will 
not let him see me, so bitterly did I dread any thing like close, 
experimental preaching. 

' I had long been a professor of religion, having united with 



DR. NETTLETON. 165 

the Rutgers street church in 1812, while Dr. Miliedollar was 
the pastor, and notwithstanding I had always been out- 
wardly consistent, (regularly observing secret and family 
prayer, constant in my attendance upon all the meetings of the 
church, as well the public services of the Sabbath, as the 
weekly lecture, and the social circle for prayer, and active in 
all the benevolent operations of the day,) notwithstanding all 
this seeming consistency of character, there was always a 
fearful whisper from the faithful monitor within, that all was 
not right. There was a secret dread of self-examination, an 
unwillingness to know the worst respecting my case, and the 
idea of coming in contact with a man who would be likely to 
expose my shallowness, if not hypocrisy, I could not endure. 
And accordingly I resolved that something should detain me 
from church when Mr. Nettleton preached. But although I 
sought diligently for any excuse, one even the least plausible, 
yet I could not find one ; and, contrary to my secret deter- 
mination, I went to church at the appropriate time with my 
family. 

" After the Sabbath, numbers of the church members called 
upon Mr. Nettleton at his lodgings, to welcome him among us ; 
and I was repeatedly requested to do so with the rest : but 
day after day I contrived to excuse myself, although I knew 
it was a civility that was expected of me. At length a brother, 
who had often urged me to go, called upon me to know if I 
would not take Mr. Nettleton a little ride in my gig, as he was 
in feeble health, having but just recovered from a protracted 
illness, adding that he found riding not only beneficial, but 
necessary, and he knew I could do it just as well as not. 

" I never shall forget my feelings at this proposition. I at 
first refused outright, and was vexed that the proposition should 
have been made. I treated the brother rudely. He however 
continued to urge, and said he had gone so far as to tell Mr. 
Nettleton he knew I would do it cheerfully. But it was all to 
no purpose. I did not do it that day, but consented to call 



166 MEMOIR OF 

upon him the next morning, with my gig, at ten o'clock, if he 
would be ready. The next morning accordingly I called at 
the appointed time, and was introduced to him on the side- 
walk ; and never did culprit dread the face of his judge more 
than I dreaded to be brought face to face with a man who, it 
was said could almost read the heart. 

" I received him politely, and vi^e soon entered into a pleas- 
ant conversation, about almost any thing and every thing except 
personal religion. This I scrupulously avoided. I found he 
was in feeble health, and somewhat given to hypochondria ; 
therefore I felt assured I could entertain him by talking about 
his own ailments. In less than one hour all my unpleasant 
feelings had vanished, and I felt as free and easy with him, 
as if I was riding with some long tried friend ; and that which 
I so much dreaded became to me at once a source of great 
pleasure and of much profit. 

" The first day he rode with me about six miles ; and after 
that, for seven months, very few pleasant days passed, that we 
did not ride together from five to twenty-five miles. I became 
deeply interested in him as a man and as a preacher. Why 
I at first liked his preaching I cannot exactly say ; but I was 
unwilling to be absent from a single meeting. The class of 
subjects he chose as his theme of discourse was new. The 
distracted state of the congregation led those clergymen who 
supplied our pulpit to select some subject connected with chris- 
tian duty. Brotherly love, if I remember right, was the sub- 
ject of discourse seven times in about three months. On the 
contrary, Mr. Nettleton presented the claims of God and the 
duty of sinners, and here I remember we had no opportunity 
of scrutinizing the sermon, to endeavor to ascertain on which 
side of the division the preacher was. This I considered a 
master stroke of policy. 

" Thus smoothly and pleasantly, comparatively speaking, it 
passed along with me for about two weeks., when one evening 
he announced from the desk that he felt some encouragement 



DR, NETTLETON. 167 

to believe that the Lord was about to grant us a blessing. He 
said he had seen several individuals vv^ho were anxious for 
their souls, and two or three who indulged hope. How it 
would end with them he could not say, but he wanted the 
church to walk softly before the Lord, to be much in prayer, 
&c., &c. I felt then that my own case required looking into 
at once, or I was lost ; and I resolved soon to attend to it, nor 
to let the present opportunity pass. Mr. Neltleton had never 
yet said one word to me on the subject of experimental reli- 
gion, although I had been with him a great deal. 

" The next day, as usual, I called for him to ride. I was 
obliged to go to Flushing that day, distant about five miles. 
Just as we were ascending the hill, a little out of the village, 
and before any subject of conversation had been introduced, 
and the horse on a slow walk, he gently placed his hand upon 
my knee and said — ' Well, my dear friend, how is it with you ? 
I hope it is all peace within.' 1 could not speak for some 
minutes. He said no more, and there was no occasion, for 
an arrow had pierced my inmost soul. My emotion was over- 
whelming. At length, after recovering a little self-possession, 
1 broke the silence by telling him frankly I was not happy — 
there was no peace within — all was war ! war ! ! Vv^ar ! ! ! His 
manner was so kind, he instantly won my confidence, and I 
unburdened my soul to him. I told him how I had felt for 
years past, and how very unhappy at times I had been. 

" He did not seem inclined to talk. All he said was occa- 
sionally ' Well — well — well' — with his peculiar cadence. At 
length he said he did not feel very well, and he wanted to be 
still. This was a request he often made, and I thought noth- 
ing of it. I have rode miles and miles with him, and not a 
word has passed between us after such a request. 

" I continued to ride with him once and twice a day ; but 
although I was anxious to converse, he said but little to me, 
except occasionally he would drop a remark calculated to 
make me feel worse instead of better — at times greatly deep- 



168 MEMOIR OP 

ening my distress. Some months afterwards, I spoke to him 
about this part of our intercourse. He said he did it inten- 
tionally, for he had reason to believe many an awakened sin- 
ner had his convictions all talked away, and he talked into a 
false hope. 

" Two or three days after he first spoke to me on the sub- 
ject of religion, he called at my house, and requested me to 
go and see a particular individual, whom he named and who 
was under distress of mind, and pray with her. I told him 
that I could not do such a thing as that, for I was not a chris- 
tian, myself. He replied — ' But you do not mean that your 
not being a christian releases you from christian obligations 1 
If you do you are greatly in error. Good morning ! ' and he 
left me rather abruptly. In the afternoon, when I rode with 
him, he did not ask me if I attended to his request, for he 
knew I had not. He only made the request, as he afterwards 
told me, to thrust deeper the arrow of conviction ; and it had 
the desired effect. My distress became very great, and I was 
unfitted for my ordinary duties. I felt as if there was but 
little hope for such a hardened sinner as I was, 

"About this time he appointed a meeting of inquiry. I 
told him I should be there for one. He said I must not attend 
on any account — it was only intended for anxious sinners. 1 
told him I certainly should be there, unless he absolutely for- 
bade it. ' I do,' said he, with more than ordinary earnestness. 
Then,' said I, ' you must promise me that you will appoint 
a meeting for anxious professors.' He made no reply. This 
anxious meeting was the first he appointed in .Jamaica. It 
was to be held at the house of a dear friend of mine, and one 
who knew something of the state of my mind. I went there 
in the afternoon, and made arrangements to be concealed in 
an adjoining bed-room, the door of which could not be shut, 
the bed being placed against it. I was on the ground an hour 
before the time appointed. Mr. Nettleton came soon after, to 
arrange the seats ; about this he was very particular. He 



DR.NETTLETON, 169 

came into the bed-room where I was concealed two or three 
times ; he wanted the door closed, but he found it could not 
be without disarranging the furniture, and he gave it up. He 
did not know I was there until some weeks afterwards. The 
temptation to be present at that meeting I could not resist. 
Some how I had received an impression that my salvation de- 
pended upon it. I had heard so often about persons being 
converted in an anxious meeting, that I thought if I could only 
be present at such a meeting, that was all that was necessary, 
and therefore I was willing not only to run the risk of offend- 
ing Mr. Nettleton, but willing to submit to almost any humil- 
iating circumstance, to accomplish my object. I thought it 
was altogether a piece of cruelty in Mr. Nettleton to forbid my 
being present, and I determined to carry my point privately, if 
I could not openly. 

" Situated as I was, I could hear next to nothing as to what 
was transpiring in the anxious room. Mr. Nettleton addressed 
those present individually, and in a very low tone of voice, 
bordering upon a whisper. As he approached the open door, 
I could occasionally catch a sentence, and hear a deep and 
anxious sob — but these words, and broken sentences, and 
sobs, were loud and pointed sermons to me. I wanted to get 
out from my hiding place, that I might give vent to my pent 
up feelings ; and my anxiety to be released, appeared to be 
greater than it was to be present. At times, it seemed as if 
I must cry out in bitterness of spirit, so agonizing were my 
feelings ; especially so as I heard him say to one individual, 
' Is it possible ? Well, I am afraid you will lose your im- 
pressions, and if you should what will become of you ? If 
the Spirit is grieved to return no more, you will lose your 
soul.' After going around the room, and conversing w'ith 
each individual, he made a few general remarks applicable 
to all respecting the danger of grieving God's Holy Spirit, and 
then dismissed the meeting after a short prayer. 

" Instead of feeling any better after this meeting, as I ex- 
15 



170 M E M O I R O F 

pected to do, I felt worse and worse. Sleep was now taken 
from me, and I felt that death was better than life. Either 
that night or the next, I forget which, but remember it was the 
27th April, I got out of bed about 12 o'clock, and went out 
into the woods. It was exceedingly dark. I fell down at the 
foot of a tree, and cried aloud for mercy in agony of soul. I 
felt that God was just in punishing me. I felt that the longest 
and the severest punishment he could inflict was no more than 
I deserved ; my sins, my aggravated sins, appeared so great. 
I remained out of doors the most of the night. In the morn- 
ing, early, before I went home, I called at Mr. Nettleton's 
lodgings. He sent word that he could not see me at that 
hour. I went away, and returned in an hour or so ; he told 
the servant to request me to be seated, and he would be with 
me in a few minutes. 

" Every minute now seemed an hour, and a long one too. 
For nearly thirty minutes he kept me in this state of horrible 
suspense, during which I was constantly pacing the floor with 
my watch in my hand. When at length he entered the room, 
I threw my arms round his neck, told him I was in perfect 
agony, o.nd that I should die if he did not in some way com- 
fort me. I told him it seemed as if I could not live another 
hour in such distress. 

" / can't help you, my dear friend, you must not look to 
me ;" and he burst into a flood of tears. 

" What shall I do ? what shall I do ?" I repeated over and 
over again, in a loud voice. 

" You must yield your heart to Christ, or you are lost ! " 
said he ; and adding, ' I do certainly think your situation a 
very alarming and dangerous one.' 

" After a few minutes, he said, ' Come, let us kneel down.' 
This was contrary to his usual prac.tice. He made a very 
short prayer, not more than a minute in length, rose from his 
knees, advised me to go home and remain in my room, and 
abruptly left me, almost overcome with emotion. Had there 



DR. NETTLETON. 171 

been any means of self-destruction within my reach, I believe 
I should have employed it, so agonizing were my feelings. 
He sent word to me by a young friend, that he did not wish 
to ride that day. I passed the most of the day in my room 
on my knees. Occasionally, I walked for a few minutes in 
my garden, and then returned to my room. It was the just 
and the eternal displeasure of an angry God that seem^ed to 
crush me to the earth. About the middle of the afternoon, 
one of the elders came to see me. He expressed surprise at 
my distress, said there was no necessity for my feeling so bad, 
he knew there was not. He tried to persuade me it would all 
be well with me soon. I told him that if he could satisfy me 
that it would ever be well with me, I would gladly and cheer- 
fully endure my sufferings thousands of years. This feeling 
I distinctly remember. The justice of God and the eternity of 
his anger distressed me most. I sent for i\Ir. Nettleton, but 
he excused himself, and did not come. 

" Thus every refuge failed me, 
And all mj' hopes were cross'd." 

" It was past the middle of the afternoon, and approaching 
sundown, and I had not yet broken my fast. After a short 
walk in the garden, I again entered my room, locked the door, 
and threw myself prostrate on my settee, as near a state of 
hopeless despair as I can conceive a mortal to be on this side 
the bottomless pit. I cried aloud, ' O my God ! how long — 
how long, O my God, my God.' After repeating this and 
similar language several times, I seemed to sink away into a 
state of insensibility. When I came to myself I was upon my 
knees, praying not for myself but for others. I felt submission 
to the will of God, willing that he should do with me as should 
seem good in his sight. My concern for myself seemed all 
lost in concern for others. Terror seemed all exchanged for 
love, and despair for hope. God was glorious, and Christ un- 
speakably precious. I was an overwhelming wonder to 



172 :\iE :\ioi II c F 

myself. The cry of ' Blessed Jesus — blessed Jesus ! ' took 
the place of ' Lord have mercy.' 

" After remaining in my room half an hour or thereabouts, I 
came down stairs, and met my dear wife, who had deeply sym- 
pathised with me in my distress. I exclaimed, ' I have found 
Him, I have found Him, and He is a precious Saviour ! ' She 
was very much overcome. She persuaded me to take some 
food, but I was so happy and so anxious to go to meeting, the 
bell having rung, that I could eat but little. I went over to 
the session house ; it was crowded — benches in the aisle were 
filled. I obtained a seat near the door. Mr. Nettleton was 
reading the 211th hymn of the village collection— 

"Of all the joys we mortals know, 
Jesus, thy love exceeds the rest," &c. 

I thought I never heard so sweet a hymn, nor so delightful 
music. I sung it at the top of my voice, of which however I 
was not aware, until I saw I had attracted the observation of 
all near me. My eyes were streaming with tears, while my 
countenance was beaming with delight, as a friend afterwards 
told me. I wanted to tell to all around what a Saviour I had 
found. 

After servdce, I walked home with Mr. Nettleton, and re- 
mained with him a few minutes. ' I knew this morning,' said 
he, ' that the turning point was not far oft\' He cautioned me 
again and again, against giving way to my feelings ; urged 
me to keep humble and prayerful, and not say much to any 
one. That night I could not sleep for joy. I do not think I 
closed my eyes. I found myself singing several times in the 
night. In the morning all nature seemed in a new dress, and 
vocal with the praises of a God all glorious. Everything 
seemed changed, and I could scarcely realize that one, only 
yesterday so wretched, was now so happy. I felt it perfectly 
reasonable that he who had had much forgiven should love 
much. I think I sincerely inquired, ' Lord, what wilt thou 



B K. . N E T T L E I O N . 173' 

have me to do ? ' and though eigliteen years have passed, God 
is still glorious, and Christ still precious to my soul ; and 
unless I am greatly deceived, I still pray for a knowledge of 
my duty, and for grace to do it. I know that 1 still love to do 
good and make others happy ; and of all anticipated delights 
which I can place before my mind, that of the enjoyment of 
sinless perfection in heaven is the greatest. But never was 
a sense of my un worthiness greater than it is at present. 

What was there in mc that could merit esteem 

Or give the Creator delight ? 
'Twas * even so, Father,' I ever must sing, 

* Because it seem'd good in thy sight.' 
Then give all the glory to his holy name, 

To him all the glory belongs. 
Be mine tlie high joy still to sound forth his fame, 

And crown him in each of my songs." 

T. W. B. 

In November, 1826, he visited Albany, and remained there 
through most of the v^^inter. While here, though very feeble, 
God made him the instrunient of the hopeful conversion of not 
a few souls. He speaks in one of his letters of eighty rejoic- 
ing in hope. In a letter to the Rev. Mr. Aikin, of Utica, 
extracts from which will be inserted in a future chapter, he 
says, '• Would that I had tim.e and strength to give you partic- 
ulars on the state of religion in this region, and elsewhere. 
In Albany it is interesting. I have met a number of circles 
of different kinds. Some are rejoicing in hope, and a number 
are anxious for their souls." 

In the spring of 1827, he repaired to Durham, N . Y. While 
here, his bodily weakness was so great, as to lead him to ap- 
prehend that he was drawing near the close of life. The fol- 
lowing letter, addressed to the Rev. Mr. Williston, the pastor 
of the church in Durham, will show the state of his mind at 
that time. As this letter is found among Mr. Nettleton's own 
papers, it may never have been delivered. It is dated Dur- 
ham, April 2ist, 1827. 
15* 



1?4 MEMOIR -Of 

" Brother Williston — This day I am 44 years old. I feel 
thankful that a kind providence has led me to this place, and 
that I have had the satisfaction of a short acquaintance with 
you. I cannot express my feelings now. But in view of the 
uncertainty of life, I would say, that I am happy in the thought 
of laying my bones in your burying ground. I cannot tell 
how it may be in the solemn hour of death — and a willingness 
to die, I do not think, is, in itself, any evidence of grace. 
But the thought of leaving the world, appears rather pleasant ; 
and above all, the thought of never sinning. I feel it to be a 
great thing to be a christian. Such v/ords as these appear 
sweet. ' I am now ready to be offered,' &c. 

' O glorious hour ! — O blest abode ! 
I shall he near and like my God ; 
And flesh and sin no more control 
The sacred pleasures of the soul.' 

" I feel a peculiar love to ministers — especially to those 
with whom I have labored in seasons of revival. Remember 
me affectionately to them all. They will find my feelings in 
the twentieth chapter of Acts. I feel a peculiar interest in 
theological students, and I have been wishing to leave some- 
thing that would be useful — something which has been learn- 
ed by experience. I would say to young men, it is a good 
symptom when they secure the confidence of aged and expe- 
rienced ministers. The younger should submit themselves to 
the elder, and always speak kindly of them. 

" My mind ranges over all the towns and places where I 
have labored in seasons of revival with peculiar delight. I 
have feelings of inexpressible tenderness and compassion, for 
all the young converts. They will find much of them in 1st 
and 2d Thessalonians. My affectionate regards to all my rela- 
tives in North Killingworth. Tell them to prepare to follow me . 
I die among kind friends. Tell your congregation, and especial- 
ly the young people, to seek an interest in Christ without de- 
lay. When I am buried on yonder hill, tell them to remem- 



D K . N E -r T L E T O N . 175 

ber the evening when I preached to them from these words, 
' Seek first the kingdom of God.'' Whenever they pass my 
grave, tell them, they will each one remember, ' there lies the 
man who talked to me about my soul.' I die in peace with 
all mankind. In great weakness. 

Your affectionate friend and brother, 

A. N." 

Notwithstanding his great weakness, while at Durham, his 
labors were attended by a divine blessing. God poured out 
his Spirit, and numbers were hopefully made the subjects of 
renewing grace. 

In the summer of the same year, there was an interesting 
revival under his preaching at Lexington Heights, on the 
Catskill mountains. Between thirty and forty were, in the 
judgment of charity, called out of darkness into marvelous 
light. 

While at Lexington, Mr. Nettleton wrote the following 
letter to Mr. Charles E. Furman, a member of the Theologi- 
cal Seminary at Auburn, now pastor of the church in Victor, 
N.Y. 

" My Dear Friend : — When I saw that the captivity of 
Zion was turned, I retired out of the region of news and 
noise, among these mountains. The bear and the panther, 
the wolf and the wild-cat, it is said, are occasionally seen or 
heard ranging the forests which surround the village and the 
mansion where I now reside. The deer I have seen leaping 
the fence and the mound, with a hound close to his heels. I 
have often been reminded of these words, ' And he was with 
the wild beasts ; and the angels ministered unto him.' When 
the apostles returned to Christ, and gave an account of their 
mission, he said unto them, ' come ye yourselves apart into a 
desert place, and rest awhile.' Every itinerant preacher, 
especially if he has been engaged in a revival of religion, 
must feel the need of this last direction ; or suffer greatly, if 



176 MEMOIR OF 

he long neglect it. I could not advise any one to be employed 
in a powerful revival more than three months, without retiring 
into solitude for a short time, to review the past, and to attend 
to his own heart. He will find much to lament, and much to 
correct ; and it is by deep and solemn rejiection upon the 
past, and by this only, that he can reap the advantages of past 
experience. It is not by passing through many revivals of 
religion, that we can gain any valuable experience on the 
subject. Many former, as well as some recent examples, 
prove the truth of this remark. 

" The people where I reside, are destitute of a settled pastor. 
I have preached a number of times to a very crowded, silent, 
and solemn assembly. I have met a number in deep distress 
of soul : and recently some are rejoicing in hope, and begin 
to sing ' Redeeming Love.' We have a most excellent choir 
of youthful singers, some of whom are among the young con- 
verts. Last evening, I saw two of the most gay and thought- 
less of them, who I feared were going to be left, and found 
them in awful distress. I had noticed that they did not sing 
in the choir on the Sabbath ; though they are favored with 
the sweetest voices. On my visit, I found the reason might 
be given in the following beautiful lines : 

' How can my soul exult for joy. 

Which feels this load of sin ; 
And how can praise my tongue employ, 

While darkness reigns within? 
My soul forgets to use her wings, 

My harp neglected lies, 
For sin has broken all its strings, 

And guilt shuts out my joys !' 

" I have thought very seriously of requesting you to make 
us a visit, for I needed your help to write off tunes, and to aid 
in learning them. But my time here is so short that I could 
not request it. My health is feeble, though better than it was 
last summer. I have been advised by physicians to spend 
the winter at the South ; and it is time to make my arrange- 



DR. NETTLE TON. 17? 

nients. I wish to hear from you soon. What is the state of 
things in Auburn ? My best regards to Dr. Richards and to 
all my friends. 

Yours truly.'' 

In the fall of 1827, he went to the South for the benefit of 
his health. He spent the winter in Virginia, and v/as made 
the instrument of a great work of divine grace. Dr. John H. 
Rice, in a letter to Dr. Alexander, thus speaks of his labors : 

'• When Mr. Nettleton had strength to labor, he soon was 
made instrumental in producing a considerable excitement. 
This has extended, and now the state of things is deeply 
interesting. Five lawyers, all of very considerable standing, 
have embraced religion. Tliis has produced a mighty sensa- 
tion in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Nottaway, Cumberland, Pow- 
hattan, Buckingham, and Albemarle. The minds of men 
seem to stand a tiptoe, and they seem to be looking for some 
"Teat thing." " Mr. Nettleton is a remarkable man, and chief- 
ly, I think, remarkable for his power of producing a great ex- 
citement, without much appearance of feeling. The people 
do not either weep or talk away their impressions. The 
preacher chiefly addresses Bihle truth to their consciences. I 
have not heard him utter, as yet, a single sentiment opposed 
to what you and I call orthodoxy. He preaches the Bible. 
He derives his illustrations from the Bible." 

Mr. Nettleton remained in Virginia, laboring in diflereut 
parts of that State, as his health and strength w^ould permit, 
and with no inconsiderable success, until the spring of 1829. 

The following letter to his friend Mr. Cobb, will give some 
idea of his labors in Virginia, and their results : 

" New York, Feb. 17, 1831. 

" My Dear Brother : — Your very welcome letter of the 

15th is just received. It awakened in ray mind the most 

tender recollections of scenes that are past — the years of the 

right hand of the most High, never to be forgotten. I rejoice 



i 78 M E M O I R O F 

to hear that the subjects of the last revival in your society, 
so generally run well. My most affectionate regards to every 
one of them, and tell them how I should rejoice to see their 
faces once more in this world. 

" Many things have transpired in my own history since I 
saw you last, and some deeply interesting. My turns of 
faintness increased until 1827, when the physicians despaired 
of my life ; and as the last resort, I was advised to go to a 
Southern climate. For three winters I have been in the 
Southern States, and my health has wonderfully improved, so 
that I have been able to labor almost incessantly. The scene 
of the deepest interest was in the county of Prince Edward, 
Virginia, in the vicinity of the Union Theological Seminary, 
and Hampden Sydney College. Our first meeting of inquiry 
was at the house of Dr. Rice — the very mansion containing 
the Theological students. More than a hundred were pres- 
ent, inquiring ' What must we do to be saved ?' Among the 
subjects of divine grace, were a number of lawyers, six or 
seven, and some of them among the leading advocates at the 
bar. Some were men of finished education, who are soon to 
become heralds of salvation. 

" During my residence in Virginia, I took a tour across the 
Alleghany Mountains, about two hundred miles, to spend a 
short time during the warm season. On my way, I spent a 
few weeks at a place called Staunton, where I left a pleasant 
little circle of j'^oung converts. On a certain Sabbath, as we 
were almost destitute of singers, I noticed a female voice, 
which from its fullness, and sweetness, and wildness, all 
combined, attracted my attention. On arriving at my lodgings 
1 inquired of a young lady whose voice it could be, and wheth- 
er we could not catch and tame it, and enlist it in our service ? 
The name, I was informed, was S L. Will you not in- 
vite her to call and see us ? ' O, she is a very gay and 
thoughtless young lady ; was never at our house, and we have 
no acquaintance with her.' Tell her from me that I wish to 



D R . N E T T L E T O N . 1 79 

see her — that. I want the aid of her voice. N went out, 

and in a few moments returned with the interesting stranger, 
who sat down with a pleasing, pensive countenance, which 
seemed to say, now is my time to seek an interest in Christ. 
And so it was, that she and her sister, and fifteen or twenty 
others became deeply impressed, and soon became joyful in 
Christ. This little circle would call on me daily, linking 
hand in hand, and smiling through their tears, would sing Re- 
deeming Love. I bade them farewell — and now for the 
sequel. I have received a letter from Dr. Wardell, the wor- 
thy physician of that place, at whose house I resided, from 
which I %vill give an extract. ' We have had several instan- 
ces of death from typhus fever since you left us. The only 
individual whom you know, included in this number, was one 

of your little circle — S L. It will be no less gratifying to 

you than it is to her friends here, to learn that she gave abun- 
dant evidence of the genuineness of the Christian profession. 
To go a little into detail. She had been complaining for sev- 
eral days, before she would consent to lie by ; and did not 
call in medical aid for some days after her confinement. I 
first saw her six days from her first attack, when she was en- 
tirely prostrate. She said she believed she should not recov- 
er, nor had she any desire to live longer. So far from being 
dismayed at death, she seemed to view it as one of the most 
joyful events. I was in some perplexity to ascertain whether 
these were the feelings of a sound mind, and the vigorous 
exercise of faith ; and closely watched for some incoherences 
which might settle the inquiry ; but there was nothing of tiie 
kind. She was too Aveak to converse much, but had her 
friends summoned around her, to give them a word of exhort- 
ation ; expressiiig a strong desire to be the means of leading 
one soul to heaven. She took great delight in gazing on 
those v^'hom she had been accustomed to meet in your little 
religious circle, because she expected to meet them in heaven. 
She often spoke of you, and your little social meetings, prayed 



180 MEMOIR OF 

for you, and said she should meet you in a larger circle in 
heaven than she had ever done in Staunton. In order to test 
the correctness of her apprehension, I asked her if she would 
feel no diffidence in being admitted into the presence of a holy 
Godj and the holy beings who surround his throne ? She had 
strength only to reply — But I am washed — I am washed ! 
She lived fourteen days after I saw her first. I have been 
thus particular, because she requested that some one would 
inform you of her death.' 

" You will pardon me for sending you this little story. It 
cannot touch your feelings as it does my own. You may read 
it to your young people as a token of affectionate remem- 
brance from 

" Their unworthy friend." 

While Mr. Nettleton was in Virginia, he wrote the follow- 
ing letter to the Rev. Lavius Hyde ; and although it contains 
but little respecting his labors, it will on other accounts, be 
read with interest. It will give the reader some idea of Mr. 
Nettleton's exquisite sensibility to the beauties of poetry. 

" Staunton, Va., March 4, 1829. 
" My Dear Brother — So many things have transpired since 
I left the North, that 1 am really at a loss how to begin my 
letter, or what to say. Indeed, 1 should not probably have 
sent you even this, had not the biography of our departed 
friend, Carlos Wilcox,* to my surprise, found its way over 
these mountains, into the interior of Virginia. I have read 
it with no common interest alone — also in company with a 
number of ministers and Christians, who were greatly de- 
lighted. Some part of it, I mean the poetic part, I have read 
frequently in a circle of young converts in this place. ' The 
Religion of Taste' has set them all weeping — especially from 
the 79th to the 91st verse inclusive. A few Sabbaths since, 
seventeen persons made a public profession of religion in this 

*Mv. Hyde was the author of this biography. 



DR. NETTLETON, 181 

place : and as they all stood in a single row, side by side, in 
front of the pulpit, while the minister was addressing them, 
they affectionately grasped each other by the hand. With 
wonderful adroitness, the minister seized this circumstance, 
and obserA^ed that he considered it as a signal of the union of 
their hearts. A few days after, while sitting in a circle, link- 
ing hand in hand, I read to them for the first time, ' The Reli- 
gion of Taste.' When I came to the 87th verse, the effect I 
cannot describe. Others were present who were without 
hope, and anxious for their souls. And oh, you cannot im- 
agine how solemn it was, when I came to these words : 

' I only wandered on, with none to meet 

And call me dear, while pointing to the past, 

And forward to the joys that never reach their last, 

I had not bound myself by any ties 

To that blest land.' 

" I do think this piece contains specimens of exquisite 
painting. The fourth verse I have often read to my friends 
as specimens. The 98th and 101st are favorites. How I 
should like to read and enjoy the whole of this, and Pollok 
with you and Mrs. Hyde. While reading the latter, how 
often has the thought crossed my mind, what would friend 
Carlos have said, had it made its appearance in his life time ? 

" I have no time to give you an outline of my own sorrows 
or joys. 

' What matter whether pain or pleasure fill 
The swelling heart, one little moment here.' 

" Providence permitting, I start for Prince Edward within 
a few days, and hope to visit New England in the Spring. 
My best regards to all your family. 

" Yours truly." 

The following letter from a highly respectable clergyman 
in Virginia, was received too late to be inserted in the first 
edition of this memoir. 

16 



182 :vrE:.[oiK of 

" CuMBERLAxXD Co. Va. July 17, 1844. 

"Rev. and Dear Sir — I am pleased to learn by a notice in 
the papers, that you are engaged in preparing a biographical 
sketch of the late Rev. Dr. Nettleton. I received, a few days 
ago, a request from our friend, Rev. Michael Osborne, that I 
w^ould furnish you with such information as I could, in refer- 
ence to Dr. Nettleton's labors in Virginia, and the estimation 
in which those labors were held by christians here. 

" It was m)^ privilege while a young man in the ministry 
of the gospel, to share his confidence and his friendship, 
during his first visit to Virginia in 1828, and the beginning of 
'29, and I had on two occasions afterwards, an opportunity 
for intimate and most delightful intercourse with him. Du- 
ring the winter of 1828, he spent two weeks in my study at 
Buckingham C. H., to which place I had just been called as 
the pastor of the small Presbyterian church there, and which 
had enjoyed the privilege of his ministry for a few weeks 
during the summer of that year, with the manifest blessing of 
the Head of the church on his labors. He was then resting 
from the severe and exhausting labors which he had under- 
gone during the summer and fall, at Hampden Sydney, Prince 
Edward Co., at Buckingham C. H., and in the valley of Vir- 
ginia ; and during those two weeks, I had the highly prized 
opportunity of full conversation with him about his views in 
theology, with the doctrinal history of which, he was uncom- 
monly well acquainted ; about the whole subject of revivals 
of religion ; the proper manner of presenting divine truth to 
the understandings and consciences of men, in connection 
with a spirit of prayer, and a feeling and entire dependence 
on the Spirit and grace of God, to make the truth effectual ; 
and plans for building up the kingdom of Christ. On all 
these subjects he was the most interesting and instructive in- 
dividual with whom I have ever had intercourse ; and on the 
subject of revivals of religion, incomparably th^ wisest man I 
ever saw. It was a subject which he had thoroughly studied 



D R . Is E T T L E T O "S . 1 S3 

in the light of revelation and ecclesiastical history, and on 
which he had an amount of experience and observation 
probably beyond any man living. You will render most im- 
portant service to the cause of Christ, if you succeed, as I 
trust you may, in getting before the public mind, a full exhi- 
bition of his views on this subject. 

" He w^as introduced into Virginia by the Rev. Dr. John 
H. Rice, then Professor of Christian Theology in Union 
Theological Seminary, Prince Edward Co., and very soon 
began his labors v/ith the Presbyterian church in the imme- 
diate vicinity of the Seminary, and Hampden Sydney College. 
The Spirit of God accompanied his exhibitions of divine 
truth, and soon a most interesting and precious revival of 
religion was enjoyed with the church there. He was deeply 
interested in this revival of religion, and so were many others, 
because of the number of educated gentlemen, especially 
lawyers of high standing and extensive influence, who were 
hopefully converted during this blessed season of divine in- 
fluence. Not many gentlemen of this profession, had, up to 
this time, been members of any church in this section of 
country. Those referred to, were from several adjoining 
counties ; and this circumstance attracted no little attention, 
and sent out an extensive and most salutary influence on the 
surrounding country ; especially the county of Buckingham. 
This county, in execution of his ordinary plan of making the 
scene of a revival a center of influence for the surrounding 
country, he took an early opportunity to visit. He preached 
at the Court House for a few Sabbaths, to a small church 
which had been organized a few years before ; and here his 
ministry excited great attention, and was accompanied with 
the special blessing of heaven. The revival at this place 
was not extensive, but it laid the foundation, as I had occa- 
sion to knov/, for building up quite a flourishing Presbyterian 
church in that region. I had on the ground an interesting- 
opportunity to observe the practical effects of a genuine re- 



184 MEMOIR OF 

vival of religion, conducted on true scriptural principles, as I 
began to minister to that community in the beginning of the 
winter of that year. The views of religion which he pre- 
sented, were so scriptural, and rational, commending them- 
selves to every man's conscience ; and the sympathies of the 
community, in the midst of deep interest and intense feeling, 
were so wisely managed, avoiding every thing like extrava- 
gance and fanaticism, that the sober and well-balanced minds 
of those without, could find no occasion to object to any thing 
that was said or done. When Dr. Nettleton went away, the 
consciences of the people w^ere left on the side of rational 
and intelligent piety. The young people, too, grew up under 
the impression that revivals of religion are blessed seasons ; 
so that when another revival came, the obstacles in the way 
seemed to be small. That church has been emphatically 
one of revivals ever since, and has been mainly built up by 
them. The same impression, as I have had opportunity to 
know, vv^as left on the public mind by the revival in Prince 
Edv/ard Co,, as indeed, it always will be, when a genuine 
revival of religion, properly conducted, is enjoyed. 

" Towards the close of the summer of that year. Dr. Nettle- 
ton's health, which was quite feeble when he came to Vir- 
ginia, rendered it proper as he thought, that he should visit 
the mountains, and the mineral springs located among them. 
He could not, however, during his excursion, debar himself 
the privilege of preaching the gospel. He labored for a few 
weeks, with the blessing of God, but not to the same extent 
as at Prince Edward, and Buckingham C. H., at Lewisburg, 
Greenbrier Co., and at Staunton, Augusta Co. 

" These trips gave him an opportunity for extending his 
acquaintance and his influence with the clergy of Virginia, 
by whom he was every where received with the utmost cor- 
diality and christian affection. The report of the blessing of 
God on his labors for Christ, which preceded him, opened 
the hearts of all our ministers and people towards him. You 



DR. NETTLETON. 185 

doubtless had an opportunity to know how the cordiality and 
christian affection of his Virginia brethren affected him. On 
their part, I had many occasions to know, they regarded his 
visit to Virginia as a great blessing to our churches. I have 
always thought, that Dr. Nettleton's sojourn among us was 
worth more to the cause of Christ, from the influence which 
he exerted on the minds of ministers, than in any other point 
of view. He certainly exerted no little influence on the man- 
ner of preaching the gospel in this part of the state ; but 
probably, yet greater good resulted from the interest which 
he excited on the subject of genuine revivals of religion. 
Our churches had been blessed with such seasons of refresh- 
ing before ; but the subject had not been any thing like so 
well understood. The views wliich followed his visit, have 
powerfully influenced the minds of ministers and christians 
generally ever since ; and their hallowed influence, we may 
reasonably hope, will go down upon the church for many 
years to come. He felt great interest in the students of our 
seminary, who were soon to be in the field of ministerial 
labor, and cordially co-operated with good Dr. Rice, iii" efforts 
to imbue them with the right spirit for the great w^Z of 
preaching the gospel. I well knew how high a"" value Dr. 
Rice placed on his visit to the seminary, and on the opportu- 
nity which his young men enjoyed«f<pr'witnessing his manner 
of presenting divine truth, and conducting things in a revival 
of religion. His interest on the subject of revivals was in- 
tense ; and as he regarded them as the great means, in con- 
nexion with the pastoral office, in building up the kingdom of 
Christ and saving a lost world, he was most deeply solicitous 
that correct views on the subject should prevail. He took 
great pains in explaining his views to those Avhom he regard- 
ed as being judicious and trusts/ ; and guarded with extreme 
caution against every thing wild and fanatical. He had 
abundant reason to be deeply solicitous on this subject, as in- 
dividuals at the North, and especially in western New York, 
16* 



1$6 MEMOIR OF 

had run revivals into extravagance, and then, as he said, 
attempted to plead the authority of his name and example for 
their ultra and extravagant proceedings. I never sav/ him so 
deeply excited on any subject, as in conversation about these 
abuses. His measures — if it be proper thus to characterize 
the means which he used in connexion with revivals of reli- 
gion, were new in this region, and excited great interest. 
The fact, however, was, tliat there was nothing new about 
his plans, except that he brought people together who were 
concerned about their soul and had made up their minds to 
attend at once to the subject of religion, into a general inquiry 
meeting, and sometimes into smaller meetings of the same 
kind in private houses, in the more distant parts of a congre- 
gation—for the purpose of personal conversation and instruc- 
tion adapted to the peculiar cases of individuals. At these 
meetings, young converts were kept with those who were 
anxious. These plans were suggested by common sense and 
the necessity of the case, and were approved by the most 
judicious ministers amongst us. Some, however, were dis- 
posed, as had been done elsewhere, to try to improve on his 
simple plans, and as he knew that imitations were likely to 
rise up here, as in other places, and plead his authority for 
measures which he could not approve, he was reserved in 
communicating his views, unless to persons who he was con- 
vinced were opposed to running revivals into extravagance 
and contempt. This, in some instances, brought against him 
the charge of being reserved and quere — often because he 
would not sit down, when his time was directly needed for 
the Lord's work, to explain all his views and plans to every 
individual who chose to visit him — or because he could not go 
to preach at several places, at the same time, to which he 
was invited. It is enough to say, that he had the cordial ap- 
probation of the most judicious ministers and intelligent lay- 
men in the region, and that his visit was regarded with spe- 
cial gratitude to the great Head of the church. 



DR. NETTLETON. 187 

" It was not to be expected that the devil would be still 
when he saw so much done to make his strong holds in this 
part of the country tremble from turret to foundation stone. 
Accordingly one of his agents at Cartersville, in the lower 
part of this county, Avhen I was there preaching as a licen- 
tiate, imported some stale slanders from Connecticut, about 

Mr. Nettleton. The name of this man was O. G. W , 

from Connecticut, and he attempted to gain currency for his 
stories by the aid of a letter from R. S. H , also of Con- 
necticut. All these slanders were silenced by an overwhelm- 
ing mass of testimony from a number of the first men in New 
England. 

" Dr. Nettleton paid several other visits to Virginia in later 
years, but generally in such poor health, that he attempted 
very little in the way of preaching the gospel. To the last, 
he retained the confidence and affection of those who had 
known him in the days of his greater vigor to labor for 
Christ, and the salvation of souls. 

" With christian regard, 

" Your brother in the gospel, 

Jesse S. Armistead." 

During the summer of 1829, he preached in several differ- 
ent places in New England, in all of which, I believe, he 
was instrumental of the conversion of some souls. I know- 
not that there were extensive revivals in any of these places 
except in Monson, Mass.. where he labored a short time 
amid scenes of great interest. The following is an extract 
of a letter from the Rev. Dr. Ely, pastor of the church in 
Monson, vmtten June 4, 1844. 

" Dr. Nettleton was among the few whose memory will be 
long cherished by the churches, as an eminent instrument, in 
the hands of God, of reviving his work, and of bringing mul- 
titudes to embrace the Saviour for righteousness and life. He 
seems to have been raised up by the great Head of the church, 



1 88 :a e :,i o i ii o f 

to accomplish his purposes of mercy in the revival of pure 
religion, and in the conversion of sinners. His influence 
upon the ministry, and upon the churches where he labored, 
was peculiarly happy. He always left behind him a sweet 
savor of Christ. Harmony and christian affection, betv/een 
pastors and people, were the result of his labors, even where 
they had been most successful in the conversion of souls. 
His zeal and earnestness in preaching the gospel, where 
Christ was named, were so tempered with practical wisdom 
and singular prudence, that he was received, and loved, and 
remembered as a messenger from God, sent to bless the 
people. 

"His labors among us in the year 1829, are recollected 
with affection and gratitude. The revival with which we 
were favored that year, commenced about the middle of July. 
It was unusually powerful and still, and rapid in its progress. 
There was less animal excitement — convictions of sin were 
more thorough, and conversions were more clear and decided, 
than in some other seasons of revival which we have enjoyed. 
We had but little to do, but to stand still and see the salvation 
of God. Mr. Nettleton, if I mistake not, was then preach- 
ing at Enfield, Mass. By my request, he came and spent a 
week with us about the. first of September, and preached fre- 
quently to the most solemn and attentive assemblies I ever 
witnessed. He then left us, and returned again in about ten 
days, and spent another week. He preached on one Sabbath 
only. On that day, I supplied his place at Enfield. He 
preached and held inquiry meetings in the evenings of the 
week, and visited the families with me in the day time. His 
labors were very acceptable, and eminently useful, and I 
bless God for his aid. Many were awakened under his 
preaching, and some hopefully converted ; and those who 
entertained hope, were greatly enlightened and strengthened. 
He is remembered Lo this day with much affection. 

" The chief excellence of his preaching, seemed to consist 



DR. NEXT LET ON. 189 

in great plainness, and simplicity, and discrimination — in much 
solemnity and affectionate earnestness of manner — in the ap- 
plication of the truth to the heart and conscience — in taking 
away the excuses of sinners, and leaving them without help 
and hope, except in the sovereign mercy of God. In short, 
it was conformed to the work for which the Spirit was sent 
into the world, viz., to reprove or convince the world of sin, of 
righteousness, and of judgment. This characteristic was most 
striking. His manner of dealing with awakened sinners, was 
peculiar. While it served to deepen their convictions, and 
lead them to Christ, it gained their confidence, and secured 
their belief of the truth. He knew, too, how to search those 
who expressed hope. And while he detected the hypocrite 
and encouraged the desponding, he was regarded by all with 
affection and reverence. A large number of the subjects of 
this revival, were young people, belonging to the first families 
in the place. Of about one hundred who expressed hope at 
that time, more than sixty belonged to the center district. 
Numbers of them have removed to other places, and others 
have died in the joyful hope of glory. Frequently have I 
heard them express their remembrance of Dr. Nettleton's 
labors, and of their obligations to him as the instrument of 
leading them to Christ. Some on examination for church fel- 
lowship, dated their awakening and conversion to his labors. 
Of the number admitted to the church that year, only four have 
apostatized. They have generally maintained the christian 
character, and some of them are eminently useful in the church. 
His labors, though short with us, were greatly blessed ; and 
I shall ever remember them with srratitude to the great Head 
of the Church, who disposed him to come and help us." 

In the fall of 1829, he went again to the south for the benefit 
of his health. He spent some time in Charleston, S. C. He 
then repaired to North Carolina, and preached considerably, 
during the months of February and March, at Chapel Hill, 
New Hope, and Hillsborough. In all these places, I have 



190 MEMOIR OF 

understood, his labors were crowned with success ; but to 
what extent I have not been able to learn. 

The summer of 1830 he spent in New England, preaching 
occasionally in different places, as his strength would permit. 

During the winter of 1830-31, he preached in Newark, 
N. J., and in the city of New York, assisting the Rev. Baxter 
Dickinson, and the Rev. Drs. Snodgrass and Spring, while 
God was pouring out his Spirit on their congregations. 

In the spring of 1831, he took a voyage to England, for the 
benefit of his health. In a letter to a friend, just before he 
sailed, he says : 

" I have but a (ew moments to write, and I never wrote with 
such fullness of heart. Drs. H. and G. and others you know, 
contemplate a voyage to England. My friends have arranged 
for me to go with them, without any agency of my ovv^n. But 
if I go, it is not to labor, and entirely at my own expense. 
If you hear that I am on the great waters, do rememher me. 
I never loved my friends so ardently, as since I have been 
thinking of this voyage. I cannot tell you on paper the 
ten thousand tender recollections that have crowded on my 
mind." 

He remained in England, including his visits to Scotland 
and Ireland, more than a year : and although he went not to 
labor, but to rest, he was not idle, nor were his labors altogether 
in vain. 

During this period, he kept a very brief journal, in which 
he noted down the places which he visited, the texts from 
which he preached, together with a very few occasional 
remarks. From this journal it appears that he traveled exten- 
sively on the Island of Great Britain, and preached in many 
different places. He also attended several meetings of minis- 
ters, convened for the purpose of hearing from him some 
account of American revivals. 

He found that much prejudice had been excited among 
pious people in England, by information which they had re- 



D R. NETTLETOX, 191 

ceived respecting certain modes of proceeding in revivals, in 
some parts of the country. While he was in Sheffield, he saw 
a letter which was written by an English clergyman, who was 
traveling in America, and who had attended several pro- 
tracted meetings. He makes from this letter the following 
extract : 

'• Terrific sermons and other means are artfully contrived 
to stimulate the feelings of ignorant people. In compliance 
with the call given at the period of the highest excitement, 
they repair to the anxious seat by scores. As their fears are 
soon aroused, they are generally as soon calmed ; and in a 
few days, many profess to entertain hope. Many such con- 
verts soon lose all appearance of religion ; but they become 
conceited, secure, and gospel proof ; so that Avhile living in 
the open and habitual neglect of their duty, they talk very 
freely of the time when they experienced religion." 

x\fter giving this extract, he remarks : 

" This man is said to be an excellent man, about fifty years 
old, having the confidence of christians and ministers wherever 
he is known'-in this kingdom. I find they are losing con- 
fidence in our American revivals. And so the imprudence of 
a few zealous individuals is doing more mischief to the cause 
of Christ in this kingdom, than all the opposition of open 
enemies could ever effect. I am almost exhausted in my 
attempts to vindicate our revivals. I can only tell the aood 
ministers here, that I do not, and never did, approve of the 
practice mentioned in the above letter, and those who adopt 
it must alone answer for the consequences." 

At Glasgow, in Scotland, he makes the following note in 
his journal. 

" Breakfasted at Mrs. Smith's, in company with the Rev. 
Mr. Russell, of Dundee, and many others. I was questioned 
about American revivals — ' anxious seats,' — as related by Mr. 
Cohon and Mrs. Trollope. They said, they supposed that 
the practice of calling out the anxious, was universal in Amer^ 



92 



MEMOIR OF 



ican revivals. A long talk ensued about the propriety of the 
measure. The subject of anxious seats has evidently depre- 
ciated American revivals a hundred per cent, in this country. 
The practice of calling persons to the anxious seat, they said, 
existed in England, only among the Methodists and Ranters. 
They seemed greatly surprised when I informed them, that 
this was not practiced, nor approved of, by the best ministers 
in New England, and they wished me to hold a meeting to 
disabuse the public mind on that subject." 

The following brief notice of a meeting of Episcopal cler- 
gymen, will be read with deep interest. 

" Attended a meeting of clergymen of the established 
church — principally evangelical — at the house of the Rev. 
Daniel Wilson, Islington. More than forty were present. I 
was called upon to give some account of American revivals. 
Commencing with the one in Yale College, in 1820, 1 was led 
to inquire if any one present could inform me of a young min- 
ister from America, who came to this country the last year, 
for his health, and who, as I had been informed, died some- 
vv^liere in the vicinity of London. I had often inquired for the 
house where he died, but as yet had found no one who could 
give me information. His name was Sutherland Douglass. 
Mr. Wilson, the moderator, whom I was addressing, lifted up 
his hands, and exclaimed, ' I knew him. I received a note 
informing me that a young minister from America, a stranger, 
dangerously sick, desired to see me. I visited him twice, and 
prayed with him. He died on the third day after I first sav/ 
him. I brought his remains and buried them in my church- 
yard.' My reply was, he was one of the subjects of that 
revival in Yale College, of which I was speaking. (Much 
weeping.)" 

Among his papers, are numerous letters written by persons 
in England and Scotland, from which it appears that he had 
warm friends in those countries. The writers of many of 
these letters express great obligations to him for the pleasure 



DR. NETTLETON. 193 

and profit which they had derived from his preaching and 
conversation ; and several of them allude to cases which had 
come to their knowledge, of the awakening and hopeful con- 
version of sinners under his labors. Although he was not 
permitted to witness in England, such scenes as he had fre- 
quently witnessed in this country, he had reason to believe, 
that God gave him some souls even there. 

After his return from England, which was in August, 1832, 
he preached in a number of different places in New England 
and in the middle States; with what success I am unable to 
state. In the autumn of 1833, there was an interesting revi- 
val under his preaching, in Enfield, Conn. 

The following is an extract of a letter from the Rev. Francis 
L. Robbins, pastor of the church in that town. 

" I have not known the man, who in my deliberate judg- 
ment, has been the honored instrument of heaven in turning 
so many sinners to the know^ledge of the truth, and saving 
souls from death, as the Rev. Mr. Nettleton. As he was him- 
self ' mighty in the scriptures,' and ' fervent in the spirit,' he 
spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, and was 
not satisfied unless men exhibited scriptural evidence of true 
religion. When he went into a place, remembering what was 
said of his master, ' he shall not strive nor cry, neither shall 
any man hear his voice in the streets,' he labored as far as 
practicable without observation, striving to turn the eyes of 
his hearers in upon themselves while they listened diligently 
to the word. His meetings, therefore, whether on the Sab- 
bath, or at other seasons, were singularly marked with still- 
ness, order, fixed and solemn attention. 

" My people were sensibly struck with the correctness of 
this statement in relation to his labors here. For in this place 
he had * seals of his ministry,' in a goodly number of hopeful 
converts who regarded him as their spiritual father, and re- 
membered him with high respect and gratitude. I refer to 
the revival of religion here in 1833, when several of the 
17 



194 MEMOIR OF 

choice, active and exemplary members of this flock, received 
deep impressions, and became, as we believe, in heart and 
spirit, the people of the living God. 

" Mr. Nettleton came here in September of that year, at my 
solicitation, when my health w^as, and had been, for several 
months, in a very feeble and precarious state ; and when some 
of our good people were fearful of the result, not only to my- 
self, but to the interests of religion. When Mr. Nettleton 
came, it was like the coming of Titus, especially to myself. 
Many of God's professed people had left their first love, and 
were engaged in matters of ' doubtful disputation,' which 
tended more to alienate and distract their feelings, than to 
quicken them in the work of the Lord. 

" Mr. Nettleton continued with us nearly three months. 
Under his lucid and frequent exhibitions of divine truth, and 
by solemn addresses to the church, together with instruction 
given in the inquiry meeting, and by direct personal conver- 
sation, deep impressions were made on the minds of a num- 
ber, which resulted in a disposition to renounce themselves, 
and humbly accept the salvation of the gospel. As he labored 
to instruct the people in the things of the kingdom of God, and 
establish them in the faith and order of the gospel, he very 
generally secured their esteem and confidence, and left a 
salutary influence behind him. 

Not long after he left us, nearly twenty, mostly youth, who 
ascribed their conversion to the abounding grace of God, 
through his instrumentality, came forward, and made a public 
profession of religion. Several others, who entertained a 
hope at that time, clouded with many fears, have been revived 
and quickened, and prepared to profess Christ since that time ; 
w^hile others who were brought to serious consideration, under 
the religious exercises conducted by Mr. Nettleton, never, I 
believe, lost their impressions, until as objects of God's special 
remembrance, they were hopefully gathered in, in a subsequent 
revival. All of those who were brought hopefully from dark- 



BR. KETTLETON. 195 

ness tonight as the fruits of that revdval, so far as I have 
knowledge, (for a few have removed to other places,) have 
walked worthy of their vocation, bearing the fruits of right- 
eousness unto the praise and glory of God." 

IMany other places might be mentioned in which he preach- 
ed occasionally, and in which there were some fruits of his 
labors, that will, 1 trust, abide, when all earthly scenes shall 
have passed away. But my object has been to mention only 
those places in which his labors are known to have been 
attended with very considerable success. 

In 1833, the Pastoral Union of Connecticut was form.ed, 
and the Theological Institute was established. These m,eas- 
ures did not originate with him, as some have supposed ; but 
they were measures which he cordially approved, and in 
which he felt a deep and lively interest. 

When the Seminary was organized, he was appointed Pro- 
fessor of Pastoral Duty. He was at the time absent at the 
south. In reply to a letter informing him of his appointment, 
he says — 

" I hardly know what to say. I need not tell you how 
entirely I am interested in the whole concern. If it can be of 
any service to the Seminary for me to sustain some official 
relation to it, I should be sorry to decline. But it has from 
the beginning seemed to me, that on many accounts, I could 
plead its cause with more freedom and effect, without sustain- 
ing that relation to it. My reasons I cannot fully state on 
paper. At any rate, I must see you, and the Trustees, before 
I can give an affirmative answer. I have, too, some doubts 
whether my habits and the state of my health, will permit me 
to sit down to close study, and to all the requisite preparation 
for that department. I have been wishing for some time past, 
to shun public observation, and to retire more into solitude." 
He did not accept. But although he chose to sustain no offi- 
cial relation to the Seminary, he took up his abode at East 
Windsor, and consented to deliver some familiar lectures lo 



196 



MEMOIP^ OF 



the students. His instruction was highly prized by tbe classes 
who enjoyed it. 

During the last ten years of his life, although East Windsor 
was his home, he spent several winters at the south, and 
preached in several different places in New England, not 
without some success. But such was the state of his health 
as to render him unable to endure much excitement or fatigue. 
In a letter to Mrs. Parmele, dated Sept. 21, 1839, he says, 
" Your note came to hand this morning. Accept my best 
thanks for your kind invitation. It would, indeed, be very 
pleasant to spend a little season "among my old friends in the 
still and retired town of Bolton, and once more talk over 
scenes that are past — ' pleasant and mournful to the soul.' 
And possibly, if life be spared, that time may come. But I 
have journeyed so long and so far in this wilderness world, 
and have passed through so many scenes of alternate storm 
and sun-shine, that I am worn out with languor and fatigue, 
and have long since concluded to retire, and journey as little 
as possible, except so far as duty and the state of my health 
seem to demand." 

In the year 1839, he received from two literary institutions,* 
the degree of D. D. This was an honor which he did not 
covet, as appears from the fact that it would have been confer- 
red several years before, by one of the New England Colleges, 
had not his own remonstrances prevented. When he first 
received the intelligence, he was quite disturbed ; and he 
asked one of his brethren what he should do. All the advice 
which he received from that brother was contained in the fol- 
lowing anecdote. " A man once said to an aged clergyman, 
my neighbors are slandering me, and what shall I do ? Do 
your duty, said the clergyman, and think nothing about it. If 
they are disposed to throw mud, let them throw mud ; but do 



*■ Hampden Sydney College, in Virginia, and Jefferson College, in Pennsyl- 
vania. 



DR. NETTLETON. 197 

not attempt to wipe it off, lest you should wipe it all over 
you." 

On reflection he seems to have come to the conclusion to 
which his friend, the late Dr. Porter, of Andover came, under 
similar circumstances, viz : " What shall a sober man do ? If 
he refuses this title on general principles, because it is incon- 
sistent with the spirit of the gospel, he charges a long list of 
such worthies as Watts; Slc. with wearing a pubUc mark of 
pride or folly. If he refuses it on principles that respect him- 
self only, he is liable to be charged with the ostentation of 
humility, and really needs much prayer and heart-searching, 
to be certain that cursed pride is not at the bottom. Too much 
noise to get rid of this contemptible honor, ' resembles ocean 
into tempest wrought, to waft a feather, or to drown a fly.' A 
wise man w^ould not kill a gnat, by a blow that might fracture 
his leg." 

17* 



CHAPTER X. 



His method of laboring in revivals of religion. 

The question lias often been asked, what was the secret of 
Dr. Nettleton's success ? In answering this question, we must 
not overlook the fact, that God acts as a sovereign, and pours 
out his Spirit, when and where, and in what measure he 
pleases. No man ever more firmly believed this fact, or acted 
more habitually under the influence of this belief, than Dr. 
Nettleton. He was perfectly aware thai all human means 
are utterly powerless, unless made effectual by the agency of 
the Holy Spirit. He did not rely on his own strength. He 
knew that he was an earthen vessel, and that when any suc- 
cess attended his labors, the excellency of the power was of 
God and not of him. It was his firm belief of this truth, pow- 
erfully operating on his mind, and leading him to place no 
dependence on his own eflbrts, but to look to God in humble, 
earnest, persevering, and confiding prayer ; which constituted 
one principal reason of his signal success. If the question 
then be asked, why Dr. Nettleton was so much more suc- 
cessful in winning souls to Christ, than most other ministers, 
the great comprehensive answer is, " Even so, Father, for so 
it seemed good in thy sight." This is the only answer which 
he was disposed to give. He attributed none of the glory to 
himself. Nor did any of it belong to him. He did not pos- 
sess any power over the human heart which other men do not 
possess — he was only an instrument by which God accom- 
plished his purposes. Nor was he selected as the instrument 



DR, NETTLETON. 199 

of such good to mankind, because he was more worthy than 
others, or because he had done any thing to entitle him to this 
honorable distinction ; for although he may have possessed 
qualifications for his work, which others did not possess ; yet 
for all these qualifications, whether intellectual or moral, he 
was indebted to the Grace of God ; and to that grace let the 
glory be ascribed. 

But God in accomplishing his purposes, not only makes use 
of means, but adapts means to ends. He raises up instru- 
ments, and fits them for the work which they are destined to 
perform. Although no labor of the husbandman will insure to 
him a harvest, yet he has no reason to expect a harvest with- 
out labor : nor has he a right to conclude that it is a matter of 
indifference what kind of labor he employs. He knows it to 
be important to till his ground, and to sow in it good seed. 
So in the moral world, means must be adapted to the end to be 
accomplished. Although Paul plant, and Apollos water, God 
must give the increase ; yet we are not to suppose that it is 
of no consequence what seed is planted, or how it is planted, 
and watered. Although God might bring to pass different 
results, when the same means are used, and in the same man- 
ner ; yet ordinarily when the results are different, there is 
some difference in the means or in the manner of employing 
them. Whitefield was not only a more successful preacher 
than others who were his cotemporeries ; he was also a dif- 
ferent preacher — not that he preached different doctrines ; but 
he preached them in a different manner. 

That Dr. Nettleton possessed peculiar skill in presenting 
truth to the minds of men, and laboring in revivals of religion, 
will be admitted by most who are at all acquainted with his 
history. During that protracted period of conviction, through 
which he passed before his reconciliation to God, he obtained 
a knowledge of the human heart which few possess. He 
could trace the secret windings of human depravity. He un- 
derstood the refuges of lies to which sinners are prone to 



200 MEMOIR OF 

resort, and he knew how to meet and to answer the various 
excuses by which they attempted to shield themselves from 
blame. He had an experimental acquaintance with the great 
truths of the gospel, which enabled him not only to present 
them with clearness to the minds of others, but to press them 
home upon their consciences as matters of everlasting moment. 
His deep religious experience enabled him to ascertain the 
precise state of mind of different individuals, and to adapt his 
instructions to their particular circumstances. When an 
impression was made upon the mind, he was careful to follow 
it up ; well knowing the various 'ways in which religious 
impressions are liable to be effaced, and what is best adapted 
to deepen and perpetuate them. 

The Rev. Mr. Pinneo, who was his theological instructor, 
and who was somewhat intimately acquainted with him after 
he became a preacher, says : 

" If attending religious meetings together for a considerable 
season, and at different times in after years, when he was in 
full strength, may be considered as affording me the opportu- 
nity to judge, I would say, that brother Nettleton appeared to 
me to be uncommonly discerning and skillful in handling the 
doctrines of grace, and to have an uncommon insight into the 
human character ; and to be able better than most, to place the 
naked truth upon the conscience, and to demolish with a few 
heavy strokes, all the vain excuses and refuges of lies to which 
sinners resort to screen themselves from the force of truth. 
And then he would follow up the impression, with great 
industry, skill and perseverance. Thus the Floly Spirit fitted 
him for the work, and employed him as an instrument of the 
conversion of sinners. But God acts as a sovereign ; for 
neither he, nor other successful preachers, have been uni- 
formly blest in their labors." 

The following extract of a letter written to one of his 
brethren in the ministry, in 1823, shows his own views of the 
importance of following up an impression when made, and of 



DR. NETTLETON. 201 

making special efforts when there is evidence that the Spirit 
of God is operating upon the minds of the people . 

"It becomes every friend of Zion to prepare the way of the 
Lord through all the towns in this region. The fields are 
whitening all around us ; and though God can create and 
gather the harvest without human instrumentality, yet we do 
not expect it. A revival begun, is likely to subside, without 
the constant pressure of gospel motives on the consciences of 
the awakened. It is obvious from experience, that God gen- 
erally blesses, far more extensively, the means for extending 
his work, than he does for commencing it in the midst of sur- 
• rounding darkness. As the conversion of one sinner is often 
the means of awakening every member of the family, and the 
impulse is again felt through every kindred branch, and through 
the village and town ; so one town may be the means of a 
revival in another, and that in another. Though some minis- 
ters feel the truth of this remark, yet few if any realize its full 
force. There is as really a season of harvest in the moral as 
in the natural world. Now every hand that can hold a sickle, 
needs all its strength. The harvest fulli/ ripe, neglected a 
few days, is forever lost. Other fields may whiten, and the 
same field a second time, but the former neglected harvest is 
lost forever. There is a crisis in the feelings of a people, 
which, if not improved, the souls of that generation will not 
be gathered. In the season of a revival, more may be done — 
more is often done to secure the salvation of souls, in a few 
days, or weeks, than in years spent in preaching at other times. 
One sermon, in a revival, often does more execution, than a 
hundred equally good, out of it. And I verily believe, that 
more good may be lost for the want of that one, than can be 
done with it, and with a thousand like it, when the crisis is 

past. ' Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then' ■ 

it is now, or never. And ' he that reapeth receiveth wages.' " 

The success of Dr. Nettleton was not in every respect like 
that of Whitefield. Whitefield's power was chiefly in the pulpit. 



202 MEMOIR OF 

His eloquence was overpowering, and great multitudes v/ere 
sometimes awakened by a single sermon. Dr. Nettleton did 
not expect such effects from a single effort in the pulpit. His 
success was the combined effect of preaching in the church, 
and in the lecture room, and of private conversation. His 
preaching was alwaj^'s solemn and impressive, and sometimes 
in a high degree eloquent. It was more instructive, and ad- 
dressed more to the conscience, and less to the passions than 
that of Whitefield. As a natural consequence, the revivals 
which occurred under his preaching were more pure — at- 
tended with less fanaticism, and a smaller proportion of tem- 
porary converts. 

When he commenced his labors in any place, one of the 
first things which he attempted was, to make the impression 
on the minds of the people, that their help must come from 
above, and that they must place no dependence on an arm of 
flesh. When he found that they were placing undue depend- 
ence on him, he often suddenly disappeared, at least for a 
season. Until this state of feeling was destroyed he had no 
expectation of accomplishing any good. 

It was a prime object with him, when he went into a place 
where there was no special seriousness, to awaken a proper 
state of feeling among the people of God. Knowing that 
when God pours out his Spirit, he usually first revives his 
w^ork in the hearts of his own people, and that he awakens 
and converts sinners in answer to their prayers, he endeavored 
to impress upon their minds a sense of their responsibility.* 
Among his first sermons, he would sometimes preach from 
Rom. xiii. 11. " And that knowing the time, that now it is 
high time to awake out of sleep." ilnd sometimes from Ps. 

* While the Rev. Fosdic Harrison was preaching in Roxuury, in 18] 3, just 
previous to his settlement there, Dr. Nettleton made him a visit. " There vi^as, at 
the time," says Mr. Harrison, "more than usual attention to the means of grace. 
One evening he attended a meeting with me in a remote part of the town, where 
there were tokens of the special presence of the Holy Spirit; and yet, to his 
mind, indications that something was wanting. After many inquiries, he asked, 



DR. NETTLETON. 203 

li. 12, 13. "Restore unto me the joy of thy salyation and 
uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgres- 
sors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee." But 
while he called on christians with great plainness and fidelity 
to awake out of sleep, he never addressed them in a harsh 
and denunciatory manner. With kindness and affection he 
v.'ould remind them of their obligations and their sins, and 
present to them such considerations as were suited to humble 
them, and to excite them to a faithful discharge of their duty. 
He loved to see christians deeply sensible of their sinfulness, 
and at the same time deeply affected Avith the condition of 
sinners who were perishing around them. When things 
began to assume a favorable appearance, he did not like to see 
professors of religion elated, and disposed to talk about it with 
an air of exultation. He knew that flattering appearances often 
suddenly vanish, and he had learned that it is apt to be so, 
when christians begin to rejoice prematurely. He frowned 
upon every thing like ostentation, and discouraged the dispo- 
sition which too often prevails, to proclaim a revival upon the 
first indication of unusual seriousness. His views on the 
subject are expressed, as he has been heard to say, in the fol- 
lovv^ing remarks of the Rev. Mr. Brace, in his account of ihe 
revival in Newington. 

" It is no favorable thing to see professors, at such a time, 
full of glee, busy in proclaiming a revival. A true work of 
grace needs no proclamation. Is there not reason to fear tllat 
revivals are often checked in this way ? If, when a little 
seriousness appears, in a few individuals in a place, it is im- 
mediately noised abroad, and perhaps printed, that a great 
work is going on, is it not overrating the attention, and tempt- 
ing christians to cease their mourning, to lift up their eyes to 

'have you established a prayer-meeting and urged the church to pray for a 
revival?' I replied, no, not yet. * O,' said he, 'that is the difficulty. If I had 
known that, I would not have gone to the meeting. It is of no use to preach, if 
the church does not pray.' From that hint I immediately established a weekly 
prayer-meeting, after which, we soon had cases of hopeful conversion." 



204 MEMOIR OF 

see what is not to be seen, to say — ah, we have found it, 
henceforth we may rejoice, and be satisfied. I have heard 
many such introductions and confident predictions, when the 
result proved to be feeble. Such a course, not only exposes 
religion to reproach among the enemies of revivals, but pre- 
vents the very thing which it was designed to promote." 

His views on this subject are also expressed by himself in 
a letter to the Rev. Mr. Aikin, of Utica, dated Albany, January 
13, 1827. Speaking of the interesting state of religious feel- 
ing which existed in Albany, he says : 

" But I have great fears that the disposition of some zealous 
christians round about us, to proclaim it abroad, and to run 
before their own hearts, and the real state of things, will run 
it out into noise. I have already felt the evil. I find that 
many are disposed to make ten times as much of the same 
state of things, as I have been in the habit of doing, though 
they know but a small part of what I have seen in this place. 
Various reports have gone out concerning a revival in Albany, 
which have done us much mischief. If they would let us 
alone I should expect a great work in this city. But amid so 
much noise and bluster of christians, it promises fair to end in 
smoke. But after all, the good people here are astonished at 
our stillness. iVly opinion is, that had they been ten times as 
still, they would have witnessed ten times as much. Seven 
years ago about two thousand souls were hopefully born into 
the kingdom in this vicinity, in our ov/n denomination with 
comparative stillness. But the times have altered. The 
kingdom of God now cometh with great observation." 

Dr. Nettleton never held out the idea to churches that they 
could " get up a revival,*' or that they could have a revival at 
any time. It is true that he set before them the encourage- 
ment v/hich God has given to humble and fervent prayer. 
But he always maintained that a revival of true religion 
depends on the sovereign interposition of God. Nor did he 
believe in the modern notion of the prayer of faith, viz : that 



D R . N i: T T L E T O N . ■^Ul> 

God will always grant tlie particular things for wliicli we pray, 
if we only believe that he will do it. 

His mode of preaching, both to saints and to sinners, was 
solemn, affectionate, and remarkably plain. His style was 
simple, perspicuous and energetic. His illustrations were 
familiar and striking : such as rendered his discourses intelli- 
gible to persons of the weakest capacity, and at the same 
time interesting to persons of the most cultivated intellect. He 
always commanded the attention of his audience. Every eye 
was fixed, and a solemn stillness pervaded the assembly. 
There was an earnestness in his manner, vvdiich carried con- 
viction to the minds of his hearers, that he believed vdiat he 
spoke, and that he believed it to be truth of everlasting moment. 
There was also a directness in his preaching, which made the 
hearers feel that they were the persons addressed ; and such 
was his knowledge of the human heart, and of the feelings 
which divine truth excites when presented to the minds of 
unsanctified men, that he was able to anticipate objections, 
and to follow the sinner through his various refuges of lies, 
and strip him of all his excuses. So great was his skill in 
this respect, that it often seemed to individuals while listening 
to his preaching, that he must know their thoughts, xlnd in 
a certain sense it was true. By knowing his own heart he 
knew the hearts of others : because " as in water face answer- 
eth to face, so the heart of man to man." He understood from 
his own experience, what thoughts and feelings would be 
excited in the minds of sinners by the contemplation of par- 
ticular doctrines. When, therefore, he exhibited these doc- 
trines in his preaching, and perceived that the attention of his 
hearers v/as fixed upon them, he did know, to some extent, 
what were their thoughts and feelings ; and this enabled him 
to adapt his instructions to their circumstances, and to give to 
each one a portion in due season. 

This was particularly true of his preaching in the lecture 

room. Here he was at home, and enjoved the greatest free- 
18 



206 M E M O I R O F 

dom. Here he seemed to come in direct contact with the 
minds of his hearers. He watched every countenance, and 
in this way he was assisted in judging of the effect of his 
preaching on the minds of different individuals. In establish- 
ing his positions, his reasoning was so clear and forcible, as 
to be irresistible ; and conviction came upon the mind like a 
flash of lightning. And the truth was urged home upon the 
conscience, as a matter of personal and infinite interest. Here 
it was that those scenes of deep distress, occasioned by a 
vivid sense of guilt and the apprehension of the wrath of 
God, so frequently occurred. It often happened in the lec- 
ture room, that sinners were so overwhelmed with a sense of 
their lost condition, that it became necessary to remove them 
to a neighboring house. 

It was never the object of Dr. Nettleton to produce mere 
excitement, by working upon the imagination and sympathy 
of his hearers. The Rev. Dr. Rice, speaking of his labors 
in Virginia, in 1828, says, "Mr. Nettleton is a remarkable 
man, and chiefly, I think, remarkable for his power of pro- 
ducing a great excitement without much appearance of feeling. 
The people do not either weep or talk away their impressions. 
The preacher chiefly addresses Bible truth to their con- 
sciences." This was a striking characteristic of his preach- 
ing. He commended himself to every man's conscience in 
the sight of God. His object was to lead his hearers to see 
their real character and condition. All excitement which 
was not the result of clear apprehensions of divine truth, he 
considered not merely useless, but positively injurious. The 
cases of deep distress which occurred under his preaching, 
were not the effect of mere symyathy, but of clear conviction 
of sin. 

One thing ^vhich contributed greatly to Dr. Nettleton's suc- 
cess, was his faithful private conversation. Many were by 
this means awakened from their stupidity, and excited to 
attend to the concerns of their souls. He had a tilent which 



DR. NETTLETON. 207 

few possess, of introducing religious conversation with indi- 
viduals of every description. He was rarely abrupt, never 
harsh, but always kind and affectionate. His first object was 
to secure the confidence of the individual with whom he was 
conversing, and to lead him on gradually to a consideration of 
the importance of religion in general, and then to a more par- 
ticular consideration of his own spiritual state. When he 
perceived that an impression had been made, he would fol- 
low it up and watch its progress with intense assiduity. He 
could easily introduce religious conversation with persons of 
every grade in society from the highest to the lowest. To a 
lawyer he once said, " I have often thought that persons in 
your situation — persons of liberal education and high stand- 
ing in society, are in peculiar danger of losing their souls ; 
and for this among other reasons, that every body is afraid 
to converse with them." This remark opened the way for a 
perfectly free conversation, in which he was as faithful as he 
would have been to any individual in the humblest walks of 
life. 

In conversing with awakened sinners, he exhibited great 
wisdom. There was no part of the ministerial work in which 
he excelled more than in this. For this, he was pre- 
eminently fitted, as has been already intimated, by his own 
religious experience. He was generally able, with but little 
difliculty, to ascertain the exact state of the sinner's mind, 
and he knew what instruction was suited to his case. 

It was not his custom to converse 7nucli with awakened sin- 
ners. He has often remarked, that a great deal of conversa- 
tion has a tendency to confuse the mind, and to dissipate, 
rather than to deepen, religious impressions. He would con- 
verse with them enough to keep the subject before their minds, 
and to correct any false notions which they might have im- 
bibed. More than this, he considered not only unnecessary, 
but prejudicial. He did not like to have awakened sinners 
spend most of their time in running from one individual to 



208 MEMOIR OF 

another, to seek sympathy and instruction, lest, to use the 
language of Dr. Rice, they should " weep^ and talk av/ay 
their impressions." He was desirous that they should be 
much alone, engaged in reading the scriptures, serious medi- 
tation and prayer. Mr. Brace, in his account of the revival 
in Newington, after describing the solemnity v^^hich pervaded 
the assembly at the close of one of Dr. Nettleton's meetings, 
says, " He requested them to retire without making a noise. 
' I love to talk to you, you are so still. It looks as though the 
Spirit of God was here. Go away as still as possible. Do 
not talk by the way, lest you forget your own hearts. Do not 
ask how you like the preacher ; but retire to your closets — 
bow before God and give yourselves to him this night,' " He 
frequently gave such advice. 

In his conversation with awakened sinners, he was careful 
never to flatter them, or to say any thing suited to allay their 
fears. He never expressed to them, the opinion that their 
condition was hopeful. On the contrary, he gave them to 
understand, that while they remained impenitent, there was 
an awful uncertainty whether they would be saved. He 
urged the duty of immediate repentance, and showed them 
that they could do nothing short of repentance, which would 
in the least degree, improve their condition. He endeavored 
to destroy all their dependence on their own works — to show 
them that all their religious services were selfish and sinful, 
and that God has made no promise of pardon to any thing 
short of faith and repentance. 

Sometimes, instead of entering into particular conversation 
with individuals who were under concern of mind, he would 
drop a single remark suited to awaken in their minds, profita- 
ble trains of thought — -such as the following : 

" If your heart is so hard that you cannot repent now, 
what will you do, when it becomes a great deal harder ?" 

" What reason can you assign why you should not love 
God ?" 



DR. NETTLETON, 209 

*' Oh, what a hard heart you have." 

" What reason have you to think that you ever shall re- 
pent ?" 

It was not uncommon for awakened sinners to feel that 
he could give them relief; but when he found that they were 
relying on him to saA^e them, he would treat them v/ith i^eg- 
lect. This often called into exercise, the enmity of their 
hearts, and thus served to deepen their conviction, by show- 
ing them their utterly lost condition. 

His feelings were often severely tried, by the injudicious 
directions which some professors of religion, were in the 
habit of giving to awakened sinners. He has been heard to 
say, that he apprehended more evil from this source, than 
from all the opposition of the avowed enemies of religion. 
He usually occupied one meeting in considering these injudi- 
cious directions. A sketch of the address delivered on these 
occasions, is found among his papers, from which I make the 
following extract : 

1 . " Wait at the Pool. You must 7iot he discouraged, for 
we read of one loho waited thirty and eight years. 

" This text is used by way of accommodation. The im- 
potent man was waiting at the pool, not for the pardon of his 
sins, but to be healed of a bodily disease. We may accom- 
modate passages of scripture, for the purpose of illustrating 
acknowledged truth ; but we must not trace analogies too far. 
In many respects there is a striking analogy between a de- 
praved heart, and a diseased body ; but there is one import- 
ant point in which the analogy does not hold — the one is 
criminal ; the other is merely calamitous. 

" This use of the passage contradicts many plain declara- 
tions of the Bible — particularly all those which enjoin the 
duty of immediate repentance. Suppose a person should 
address sinners in this manner — Behold now is the accepted 
time ; — behold now is the day of salvation — But wait at the 
18* 



210 ~ MEMOIR OF 

pool. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve — But wait at 
the pool. 

" God now commandeth all men every where, to repent. 
But luait at the pool. 

" The effect of this direction is, to make the impression 
on the sinner's mind, that he is not under obligation to obey 
God immediately ; — and of course, it counteracts the influence 
of every command of God on the sinner's conscience. 

" The sinner is told that he must not be discouraged, for 
the impotent man waited thirty-eight years. This however is 
not said. It is said that he had an infirmity thirty-eight 
years ; but it is not said that he had waited a day. Be this, 
however, as it may, he was not healed by the pool, after all ; 
nor is there any evidence that he would have been, if he had 
waited all his life. 

2. '•'•Be patient and wait God^s time. 

" What is the meaning of this direction, when given to an 
awakened sinner ? 

" Be patient ! Is the sinner to understand that he is too 
anxious for the salvation of his soul, and that he ought to 
wait patiently in his sins till God shall see fit to change his 
heart ? To tell the anxious sinner to be patient without a 
new heart, is the same as to tell him to dismiss all his anxiety, 
and to go back to a state of stupidity. Patient in his sins ! 
Rather let him be more and more impatient with himself and 
with his deplorable condition. Let him tremble in view of a 
judgment to come, and weep and howl for the miseries that 
are coming upon him. 

" What is meant, when the sinner is directed to wait God's 
time ? Is it meant that God is not now ready to receive the 
sinner ? Is it meant that the sinner is willing to do his part, 
and that he must wait for God to do his ? If so, why not 
speak plainly, and tell the sinner, I know you are ready and 
willing to be a christian ; but God is not yet ready and will- 



D R . N E T T L E T O N . 211 

ing to receive you. But if God is not now ready to receive 
the returning sinner, what evidence is there, that he ever will 
be ready ? 

" But when is God's time ? Do those who direct sinners 
to wait God's time, mean that it is not their duty to repent 
and believe, till God grants them repentance and faith ? Then 
it never was the duty of those sinners to repent, who have 
gone to destruction, and it never will be. They waited all 
their lives, and are waiting still, and will wait to all eternity. 
And it has never yet been the duty of any sinner, who is now 
impenitent, to repent, and if God should not grant him 
repentance, it never will be. But this directly contradicts 
the scriptures. 

" The sinner under conviction is distressed with a sense of 
his obligation to comply with the terms of salvation without 
delay. And there is no way to relieve him from his distress 
while impenitent, but to release him from his sense of obliga- 
tion to repent. To direct him to wait God's time is directly 
calculated to produce this effect, and to counteract the opera- 
tions of the Divine Spirit. It is to plead the sinner's cause 
against God. 

" But is it not hard to distress the sinner by pressing him 
with his obligations ? It is painful, but it is necessary. It is 
painful to the surgeon to probe to the bottom a dangerous 
wound ; but it must be done, or the patient will die. If through 
false pity we console the sinner under these circumstances, 
there is reason to /ear that his blood will be required at our 
hands. If we direct the sinner to wait, we direct him to run 
the awful hazard of losing his soul. 

" It is sometimes said to the sinner, under deep distress, 
donH despair. 

" This expression not unfrequently produces a bad effect 
upon the sinner's mind. 

" It is sometimes the case that sinners speak of the great- 
ness of their sins and the hopelessness of their condition, on 



212 



MEMOIR OF 



purpose to be flattered and consoled. And when they do not, 
it is always best to admit that their case is quite as bad as 
they represent it. It is proper to hold up the fullness of the 
atonement, and the readiness of God to forgive all who repent. 
But this the sinner generally does not doubt. The thing that 
distresses the convicted sinner, is the fear that he never shall 
repent. From his own experience he has full conviction that 
it will never be easier to repent than now. His sins are in- 
creasing, and his heart is becoming more and more perverse. 
God has said, ' Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,' 
He believes it. He despairs of obtaining salvation without 
repentance ; and of this he ought to despair. 

'' In every case of clear conviction, there is in the mind of 
the sinner a painful sense of obligation to repent, and a fearful 
apprehension that he never shall repent. In this state, he 
sometimes inquires, do you think there is any hope in my case ? 
Do you think I ever shall become a christian ? This is a 
most interesting crisis ; and a little flattery here may ruin the 
soul. The proper answer to these inquiries is, ' I do not 
know. It is altogether uncertain. One thing is certain, how- 
ever great your sins may be, if you will repent, they shall be 
pardoned; but whether you ever will repent, is altogether . 
uncertain. vSinners as anxious as you, and perhaps more so, 
have returned to stupidity, and their last state has become 
worse than the first.' When sinners are in this state of mind, 
their friends are exceedingly prone to flatter them. ' Oh don't 
despair — Be patient — Wait God's time — You will doubtless 
Jind relief.' Such language is exceedingly dangerous. Every 
word takes it for granted that the sinner's concern for his soul 
is without foundation. One of two things is true — either such 
directions are wrong, or the sinner is not under conviction ; 
for if he is under real conviction, the Spirit of God is show- 
ing him his true condition. His apprehensions are well 
founded, and if we attempt to remove these apprehensions, we 
directly counteract the operations of the Holy Spirit. " 



DR . NETTLE TO X. 213 

The foregoing extract will give the reader some idea of 
the manner in which Dr. Nettieton was in the habit of deal- 
ing with awakened sinners. He did not heal the heart of 
sinners slightlj-, nor cry peace, peace, when God had not 
spoken peace. 

Dr. Nettieton discouraged every thing like confusion and 
disorder in religious meetings. Whenever he sa^ any ten- 
dency to wild enthusiasm and extravagance, he exerted all his 
influence to check it. This is evident from the extract of a 
letter to the Rev. John Frost, inserted in a former chapter, in 
Avliich he gives some account of the commencement of the 
revival in Salisbury, Conn. 

In the same letter he quotes, as expressive of his own views, 
the following remark of President Edwards. " It has been a 
common device of the devil to overset a revival of religion, 
when he finds he can keep men quiet and secure no longer, 
by driving them to excesses and extravagances. He holds 
them back as long as he can, but when he can do it no longer, 
then he will push them on, and if possible, run them upon 
their heads, xlnd it has been by this means chiefly, that he 
has been successful, in several instances, to overthrow most 
hopeful and promising appearances." 

Dr. Nettieton never adopted the anxious seat, nor any of its 
kindred measures. He never requested persons to rise in the 
assembly to be prayed for, or to signify that they had given 
their hearts to God, or tliat they had made up their minds to 
attend to the subject of religion. He never encouraged 
females to pray and exhort in promiscuous assemblies. He 
never held his meetings to a late hour in the night ; nor did 
he encourage loud praying and exhorting. He did not encour- 
age young converts, and others who had more zeal than dis- 
cretion, to take the charge of religious meetings, or to go forth 
as public exhorters. He was never personal in his prayers 
and exhortations, nor did he countenance it in others. He 
did not allow himself to denounce ministers and professors of 



214 I\I E M O I R O F 

religion, as cold and dead, and as the enemies of revivals. 
He entirely disapproved of all such measures, and considered 
them as suited to mar the purity of revivals, and to promote 
fanaticism and delusion. It was against such m.easures as 
these, introduced in the western revivals, that he set his face 
in 1826, as we shall see in the sequel.* His meetings were 
regular #nd orderly ; characterized by great stillness and 
solemnity. They were, it is true, sometimes interrupted by 
the overwhelming distress of a convicted sinner. But when 
this was the case, the individual was immediately removed to 
a neighboring house, and means were adopted to check the 
effect of mere sympathy on the occasion — as in the case which 
occurred at Milton, already mentioned. I will mention 
another case which occurred at Waterbury. At an evening 
meeting, a man was so overcome with distress, that it became 
necessary to remove him from the house. For a moment the 
congregation was greatly agitated. Dr. Nettleton requested a 
physician who was present, to attend to the case, and then 
desired the congregation to be seated and to attend to the dis- 
course. Immediately the assembly was as still as if nothing 
special had occurred. 

Dr. Nettleton was in the habit of appointing meetings of 
inquiry for those who were under religious concern ; and 
these meetings, under his management, were eminently useful. 
They were usually conducted in the following manner. After 
a short address, suited to produce solemnity, and to make all 
who were present feel that they were in the presence of a 
holv and heart searching God, he would offer prayer. Then, 
he would speak to each individual present in a low voice, 
unless the number was so large as to render it impossible. 



* He says in a letter to a friend, written in 1835, " I did not oppose these 
measures because they were new, but because of the mischief which they had 
■ done in bringing the very name of a revival into disgrace. And up to this day, 
I have in no instance called on sinners to take a separate or anxious seat. Nor 
was I ever present to witness the scene as practiced by others." 



DR.NETTLETON. 215 

When that was the case, he would sometimes have one or 
two brethren in the ministry to assist him. He would con= 
verse with each one but a short time. The particular object 
of this conversation was to ascertain the state of each one's 
mind. He would then make a solemn address, givinsr them 
such counsel as he perceived to be suited to their condition ; 
after which he closed the meeting with prayer. He usually 
advised them to retire with stillness, and to go directly to their 
closets. 

He was very particular to warn those who were anxious, 
and those who Vv^ere indulging hope, against the danger of 
self-deception. He reminded them of the deceitfulness of the 
human heart, and of the unremitted efforts of the great-adver- 
sary to delude unwary souls. On entering a house one morn- 
ing, in New Haven, in the re^dval of 1815, a person said to 
him, " here are three more rejoicing." He replied, " if I 
knew as well as the angels whether they have truly repented, 
I should know whether to rejoice with them." He was very 
cautious not to encourage premature hope. He never told a 
person that he thought he had experienced religion ; but he 
often advised persons to give up their hopes. 

He took great pains to instruct young converts in the fun- 
damental principles of the christian religion. He would often 
appoint meetings for their special benefit. In these meetings 
he was wont to explain and enforce in a familiar manner, the 
doctrines of the gospel. Hence the young converts became 
rooted and grounded in the truth, and continued steadfast in 
the faith. In this way also, they became acquainted with one 
another, and receiving the same doctrines and drinking into 
the same spirit, they became united as a band of brethren. 

He felt it to be of the first importance to preach the doc- 
trines of grace with great plainness, in revivals of religion. 
He had no confidence in those revivals, in which these doc- 
trines could not be preached. His opinion was that while the 
preaching of divine sovereignty and election, with their kin- 



216 MEMOIR OF 

dred doctrines, was eminently fitted to check fanaticism, and 
put a period to a spmious religious excitement, it was equally 
adapted to promote a genuine revival of religion. In Dr. 
Porter's lectures on Homiletics, I find the following reference 
to Dr. Nettleton's opinion and practice in relation to this 
subject. 

" The minister of Christ, whose experience and success in 
such seasons have been greater than those of any other man 
in modern times, observed to me, ' 1 have seen churches run 
down by repeated excitements in which there was emotion 
merely, without instruction.'' ' In the first stage of a revival,' 
said he, ' while depravity is yet ascendant, and conscience 
asleep, I would preach the Law, with its awful sanctions and 
solemn claims on sinners to be holy and that immediately. 
But when the first moments of a revival are past, and sinners 
are settling down on presumptuous confidences, 1 would preach 
Election. Conscience is then roused enough to make a cord 
which sinners cannot break. Their own convictions are on 
my side, so that they cannot escape ; and I would hold them 
fast, and repeat my strokes under the fire and hammer of 
divine truth.' " 

He was cautious in admitting persons to the church. He 
would not encourage any to make a profession of religion till 
they gave satisfactory evidence of a change of heart. His 
fidelity in this respect, is illustrated by the following fact. 

In the town of W , where there had been an extensive 

revival under his preaching, a meeting was appointed for the 
examination of those who were desirous of making a profes- 
sion of religion. A. man and his wife attended this meeting, 
who had, till a short time before, belonged to another religious 
denomination. They were persons of great respectability, 
and of a blameless life ; but they gave no satisfactory evi- 
dence of having experienced a change of heart. The deacons 
and committee of the church were in favor of admitting them. 
They knew not how to reject persons of their character and 



DR.NETTLETON. 217 

Standing in society. But Dr. Nettleton would not consent. 
The next day, he called on these individuals, and in a kind 
and affectionate manner informed them of his fears respecting 
their religious experience, and pointed out to them the danger 
of making a profession of religion without the requisite qual- 
ifications. They immediately withdrew their application. 
Soon after this, Dr. Nettleton left the town ; but within a 
short time, he was informed by letter, that these individuals 
had both become the hopeful subjects of divine grace. Some 
months afterwards, on a visit to the place, he called on this 
family. The man and his wife both met him at the door, and 
with tears in their eyes they seized him by the hand, and 
broke out in strains of the most unfeigned gratitude. " Oh," 
said they, " if it had not been for your faithfulness, we should 
have lost our souls." Let this example stimulate all ministers 
to faithfulness and caution in admitting members to the com- 
munion of the church. 

Dr. Nettleton had but little confidence in the conversion of 
persons who had been in the habit of using spirituous liquors, 
unless they entirely abandoned the habit, and he was very 
unwilling to admit such persons to the church. His views on 
this subject are expressed in a letter which was written to 
Dr. Beecher, in May, 1822, -and which was afterwards pub- 
lished in the Spirit of the Pilgrims. This letter is so valuable 
on many accounts, that I shall insert it entire. 

" My dpar brother : — I hear frequently from many places 
where God has, of late, poured out his Spirit and revived his 
work. My friends residing in these places, far and near, 
either visit me or write to me, and tell me all their joys and sor- 
rows. For a number of years I have kept a list of the names 
of those who have hopefully experienced religion, and made a 
profession of it, in these revivals. When far from them, in 
my retired moments, I have often read over their names, and 
pondered on them, and on the scenes they have awakened, 
with emotions too big for utterance. I have watched them 
19 



218 MEMOIR OP 

with anxious solicitude, and have made particular inquiry 
about the spiritual welfare of each one, as opportunity pre- 
sented. My heart has often been refreshed, v/hen some 
Timothy has brought mc good tidings of the faith and charity 
of the young converts. No tidings have been more refreshing. 
I have often had occasion to adopt the language of Paul on 
this very subject, ' What thanks can we render to God again^ 
for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God.'' 

" During the leisure occasioned by my late illness, I have 
been looking over the regions where God has revived his work 
for the tv/o years past. The thousands who have professed 
Christ in this time, in general, appear to run well. Hitherto 
I think they have exhibited more of the christian temper, and 
►a better example than the same number who have professed 
religion when there was no revival. With hundreds of these 
I conversed when anxious for their souls, and afterwards, 
when rejoicing in hope. Some of them I have followed through 
life, and down to the grave. If genuine religion is not found 
in revivals^ I have no evidence that it exists in our world. Some 
few, indeed, have dishonored their profession, have opened 
afresh the wounds of the Saviour, and caused the hearts of his 
friends to bleed. Bunyan says, ' If at any time I heard of such 
instances of apostacy among those who had been hopefully 
benefited by my ministry, I feel worse than if I had followed 
one of my own natural children to the grave.' I have lost 
near and dear relations, but the tidings of which Bunyan 
Speaks, have sometimes struck me with deeper sadness. Of 
the few who have finally apostatized, you may wish to know 
the cause. I have made particular inquiry, and find that the 
declension of some has commenced with an undue conformity 
to the world ; but the sin of intemperance has caused more 
trouble, and done more dishonor to the cause of Christ, than 
any other that can be named. 

" Though some have confessed, and doubtless repented of 
other crimes, yet few if any excommunications have hitherto 



DR . XETTLETO.\. 219 

taken place, for any crime except intemperance. 1 have heard 

from S county, that of the hundreds who professed reU- 

gion there two years ago, a few only have been called to a 
public confession, and these have been restored. 

" 1 have heard of one excommunication. He was an ac- 
quaintance of mine, a man about thirty-five years of age, in the 
town of M-- — . He had been a little inclined to intemper- 
ance. He was anxious with others ; his conversion was con- 
sidered interesting ; and at the time he professed religion, it 
was thought that his habit was broken. But before I left that 
place he ventured to drink a little. On a public occasion he 
became boisterous, and charged one man with lying, and that 
led on to an angry dispute, in v/hich all present considered 
him the aggressor. This was soon noised through the place. 

" It gave a general shock to all the young converts. 1 well 
remember the effect. Each one began to tremble lest he too 
should wound the cause which was dearer to him than life, i 
shall not forget what tenderness of conscience the young 
converts manifested. Each one seemed to tremble most of 

all for himself. The next morning Mr. H became sober, 

and now he felt exceedingly chagrined on remembering what 
he had said and done. He told me that his first thouo-ht in 
the morning was, that he had dishonored religion, and he 
co:.ld not bear to be seen. He was almost tempted to leave 
his family and friends, and abscond. He however confessed 
his fault and appeared penitent. But, sad to relate, he drank 
again ; and, as I have been informed, is now cut off and 
utterly abandoned. 

" A Mr. T , in the town of B — — , was under conviction, 

hopefully experienced religion, and made a public profession, 
with about sixty others. He appeared well, with the excep- 
tion of this circumstance, that previous to his convictions, he 
had been a little inclined to intemperance. In the judgment 
of charity, he had reformed and become a new man. He for- 
sook his wicked companions, prayed in his family, and 



220 MEMOIR OF 

appeared to be much engaged in religion, and continued for a 
number of months to adorn his profession. But he began by- 
slow and cautious steps (as he thought) to sip a little only for 
his health. Though not drunk he became foolish, and this led 
on to other things, until he dishonored the cause of religion. 
He made a public confession of his fault, and for a while 
appeared penitent. But he drank again, and this led to other 
unchristian conduct, which demanded christian satisfaction. 
His brethren began, a few days since, their endeavors to 
reclaim him. But he removed in the night, with all his family, 
and has left the State to avoid another confession. We con- 
sider him a ruined man. 

" In the town of K , a promising young man, hopefully 

experienced religion, during the recent powerful revival there, 
and made a public profession, on the same day with a hundred 
and six others. I believe he was never considered at all 

inclined to intemperance. He left K and labored in 

company with others, who made free use of ardent spirits. 
He soon contracted a taste for it, and we have heard of the 
public disgrace which he has brought on the cause of religion. 
With taunting voice, the enemies have been heard to say 

around him, ' There is one of Mr. K 's converts.' Brother 

K went after him to a neighboring place, and the young 

man has just made a public confession of his fault, and appears 
penitent. I find that all are flattering themselves that he will 
never offend again. I should think and rejoice with them, if 
I had not so often been disappointed. Of the whole number 
who professed religion in that revival, this, I think, is the only 
instance of an offence demanding a public confession. 

" When I look back on revivals which took place ten or 
fifteen years ago, I have been agreeably surprised to find so 
many of the subjects of them continuing to adorn their profes- 
sion. Take the whole number who professed religion as the 
fruit of these revivals, and take the same number who professed 
religion when there was no general revival, and I do not think 



DR. NETTLETON. 221 

the former have out-shined the latter. I have not made a par- 
ticular estimate, but from what 1 have seen, I do believe the 
number of excommunications from the latter is more than 
double, in proportion to the former. And I find, all along, that 
more excommunications have taken place in consequence of 
intemperance, than for any other crime. 

" A Mr. H— — , a member of Brother T -'s church, was 

thought to have experienced religion in L , in the days of 

your predecessor. He was a promising, active young man, 
much beloved and highly esteemed by christians, and never 
suspected of intemperance until about a year since. The 
disclosure of this fact not only grieved christians, but surprised 
and astonished every body. Though he was not suspected of 
intemperance, it was afterwards ascertained that he had beeii 
in the habit of drinking a little in private. This is one method 
of covering sin. Whoever does it is privately working out the 
ruin of his soul. But Mr. H— — made a public confession, 
appeared penitent, and all rejoiced in his reformation. This 

I said, was about a year ago. When I was last in N 

he called at brother T -'s on an evening visit. It was 

evident he had been drinking.. The next day brother T 

warned him in the most solemn manner, but all to no purpose. 
He was past fear, and past shame, and all have given him up 
as lost. He had accomplished his ruin by drinking in private, 
before his friends had any chance to prevent it. I could name 
a number of individuals, in different towns in this State, whose 
case is similar to this. 

" Now, my brother, what shall be done ? I do not ask what 
shall be done to reclaim those who have so grievousl)- offended- 
For these nothing, ordinarily, can be done. Their case is 
hopeless. My inquiry is, what shall be done to prevent the 
future disgrace of the cause of Christ ? As for those who 
have confessed their fault, and have been restored to fellow- 
ship, they must remain where they are, until the next offence 
cuts them off. But a public confession for intemperance I 
19* 



222 MEMOIR OF 

think is about nothing, and ought to go for nothing. The only 
evidence of repentance in such cases, ^5 a continued course 

OF ENTIRE ABSTINENCE FROM ARDENT SPIRITS OF EVERY KIND. 

•• " As for those who think they have experienced a change, 
if their habits are bordering on intemperance, we ought to be 
cautious how we admit them to a pubUc profession. If they 
have been in the habit of drinking freely, though not to intoxi- 
cation, however clear in other respects, this circumstance alone 
renders the evidence of their conversion very doubtful. From 
what I have seen, I do believe no class of persons are more 
likely to be deceived with false hopes than the intemperate. 
If, while under conviction, a person allows himself to sip a 
little, or raises his sinking spirits in the least, he is sure to 
grieve away the Spirit of God. 

" During the revival at S two years ago, I witnessed 

an instance, which if you please, I will relate. Mr. A 

was one of the most respectable men in that village, about 
thirty-five years of age, who kept a large boarding-house. 
His wife was under deep conviction, and soon was rejoicing 
in hope, and prayed with and for her husband. This was the 
means of his conviction ; though at the time it was not known. 
Report said that he was confined to his bed, and was danger- 
ously ill. Hints were privately circulated that he was anx- 
ious for his soul, and Vv^as ashamed to have it known. It was 
late in the evening when brother G— — went to his house, 
and found him in a bed -room, in a remote corner, in the 
greatest agony. ' What is the matter?' said brother G-- — . 
' Oh, I am sick ; I am in such distress.' ' But your pulse is 
regular, where is your pain ?' He made no reply, but with 
violence smote upon his breast. He asked, ' Is it there V 
' It is,' he rephed. The next evening, I called and found 
him in the same distress. His convictions appeared to be 

deep. But when I returned, I suggested to brother G a 

suspicion of the smell of ardent spirits. I then related a 
number of anecdotes of false conversions, connected with his 



DR. NETTLETON. 223 

suspicious scent. ' Mr. A. is a very moral man,' said he, ' and 
far from suspicion on that point.' But for fear, he sent me 
back to give him a solemn caution. I returned, and with 

much delicacy, warned him not to taste, lest He seemed 

startled at my suggestion, and assured me he was far from the 
habit. I requested his wife to watch him, and learned from 
her, that through his distress his strength had greatly failed, 
and that he had taken a very little only, to prevent his sinking 

entirely. I returned and observed to brother G— that I 

feared Mr. A. was a ruined man. His concern continued for 
a few days, when he became exceedingly joyful. His con- 
version was considered wonderful. But my joy was check- 
ed. I could not forget the smell of ardent spirits. I called 
and found him much elated with joy. But when I cautioned 
him, he seemed surprized, and somewhat offended, and 
observed, ' I think I have been distressed enough to experi- 
ence religion !' ' Ah,' said I ' now I doubt more than ever 
whether your heart has ever been changed. Do you think 
there is any merit in the distress of an avv^akened sinner ? 
Suppose you had been to hell, and endured the torments of 
the damned ; what then ! It is not distress, but love to God, 
and a change of heart, which alone can fit the sinner for 
heaven.' 

" After a little conversation, his heart rose in such oppo- 
sition,. that he relinquished his hope ; his distress returned in 
a moment ; and he cried out, ' What shall I do V His heart 
was evidently unrenewed, and quarreling with the justice of 
God. From some expressions, I caught a glimpse of his 
heart, and that, if he should ever experience religion, it was 
his secret purpose never to make a public profession of it. 
He was evidently unhumbled — like a bullock unaccustomed to 
tlfie yoke. I put into his hands, Edwards on the justice of 
God in the damnation of sinners. Shortly he again found 
relief. He wished to profess religion with others, but prudence 
led us to wait ; and the result was, that in process of time, 



224 MEMOIR OF 

lie became a sot. I know not of a more hopeless being on 
earth. He does no business ; has drunk himself out of his 

property, and almost out of his reason ; and as brother G 

says, he has become a brute. 

" I could fill sheets with the relation of facts of a similar 
character ; all of which lead to the conclusion, that persons 
of intemperate habits, though deeply convicted, are far more 
likely to rest in a false hope than others. However distressed 
a person of this character may have been, or however joyful 
in hope, I think we may set it down as a probable sign of a 
false conversion, if he allows himself to taste a single drop. 
If he does not give evidence that he intends to abstain wholly 
and forever, I feel decided that he ought not to profess reli- 
gion. If he cannot be willing to do this, he can have no 
sufficient evidence of his own repentance or conversion, and 

his hope is a spider's web. Brother T preached an 

excellent sermon, not long since from these words ; ' Cleanse 
thou me from secret faults ; keep back thy servant also from 
presumptuous sins.' In the class of presumptuous sinners he 
placed the person of intemperate habits. ' The person who 
has drunk to excess, and has been warned, cannot venture to 
drink again, at all, without sinning presumptuously. He sins 
deliberately and with his eyes open. Let him remember that 
he drinks damnation.'' I felt the justice of this last sentence. 
It was attended. with a thrill of horror. I am satisfied that 
he who cannot break off entirely, and at once, can never do 
it. And without it, we can have no evidence of his piety. 
Every time he tastes, he is putting fire to tinder and powder. 
If he really thinks he can drink a little, and yet not become a 
drunkard, his danger is so much more the greater. This con- 
fidence evinces his consummate ignorance of his own heart. 
This confidence, if not destroyed, will damn him. ' He that 
trasteth in his oivn heart is a fool.'' 

" I wish that all the young converts who make a profession 
of religion, Avould make it a point of conscience not to taste 



DR. NETTLETON. 225 

of ardent spirits. This is the way in which many have 
dishonored the cause of Christ on public occasions. In this 
way, thousands have become drunkards. I scarcely expect 
that any drunkard will be reformed, by any measures that 
can be adopted. The only successful method of preventing 
this kind of disgrace to religion in future, is, to begin with the 
temperate. Though the plague cannot be cured, it may be 
shunned. Had all young converts seen what I have, they 
would need no other motives to induce them to adopt the 
resolution to abandon the use of ardent spirits forever. Could 
1 learn that all the young converts in your parish had jointly 
adopted this resolution, it would be to themselves, to you, and 
to me, a most delightful evidence of the sincerity of their 
christian profession, as well as of genuine conversion. 
' Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, 
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.'' 

" Yours as ever." 



CHAPTER XI. 



Character of the Revivals under his preaching. 

There was a striking resemblance between the revivals 
which occurred under Dr. Nettleton's preaching, and those 
which occurred at the close of the last, and at the beginning 
of the present century. Let any one read with attention the 
narratives published in the first three or four volumes of the 
Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, and he will obtain a very 
correct idea of the revivals of which I am speaking. If 
there was any difference, it was this ; that the latter were 
more powerful and more extensive ; that is, they were char- 
acterized by more clear and distressing conviction of sin, and 
in some instances, embraced a larger number of subjects. As 
to the doctrines which were preached, the means employed, 
and the character of the religious exercises both of awakened 
sinners and hopeful converts, there was a marked coinci- 
dence. The same may be said as to the permanency of their 
fruits. A large proportion of the hopeful converts in all 
these revivals, continued to adorn the christian profession. 

These revivals were characterized by great solemnity. 
Christians were solemn. They were not merely excited and 
filled with great animation for a season ; but they were deeply 
humbled in view of their past neglects of duty. They 
mourned over their backslidings, and returned to God with 
deep contrition. Sensible of their great sinfulness, and of 
the alarming condition of sinners around them, they felt deeply 



DR. NETTLETON. 227 

solemn, and walked humbly with God. Their minds, it is 
true, were sometimes filled with gTeat joy, but it was a joy 
mingled with reverence. They felt that they vv^ere in the 
presence of God, and had no disposition to indulge in vain 
mirth. They carefully abstained in their conversation, from 
every thing suited to produce levity or to banish serious 
thoughts from the mhids of the impenitent. The things of 
eternity lay with great weight on their minds, and had a com- 
manding influence upon all their conduct. When they looked 
around them, and saw so many of their fellow men perishing 
in sin, their eyes affected their hearts. They felt in some 
measure, as did the weeping prophet when he said, " Oh 
that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears ; 
that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter 
of my people." With these feelings, they could not but be 
solemn. 

Sinners were solemn. Those who were under conviction 
were bowed down with distress. They felt like criminals 
under sentence of death. In some cases, as we have seen, 
their distress was exceedingly great. And when a revival 
had become somewhat extensive in a parish the whole com- 
munity was more or less solemn. The Rev. Dr. Porter of 
Farmington, speaking of the revival in that town says, " The 
state of feeling which at this time pervaded the town, was 
interesting beyond description. There was no commotion, 
but a stillness in our very streets ; a serenity in the aspect of 
the pious, and a solemnity apparent in almost all, which forci- 
bly impressed us with the conviction that in very deed God 
li-as in this place. ^^ What is here stated, might be stated with 
truth in reference to most of the places where revivals be- 
came extensive under Dr. Nettleton's labors. 

These revivals were characterized by deep and clear con^ 
victions of sin. Dr. Nettleton had no confidence in those 
revivals which dispense with the " law-work." He did not 
suppose that the work of conviction neeS. be of long continu- 



228 MEMOIR OF 

ance. Although in his own case it was protracted through 
many months, he did not suppose it was always so in cases 
of genuine conversion ; nor ordinarily, when the doctrines of 
the gospel are fully and plainly preached, and when the obli- 
gations of sinners are faithfully pressed upon their consciences. 
Under his preaching convictions were generally of short con- 
tinuance ; but they were clear, and frequently exceedingly 
distressing. Sinners were not brought to entertain the hope 
of salvation, without being awakened to a sense of their lost 
condition by nature, — nor were they merely alarmed by some 
vague sense of danger ; but they were convinced of sin. They 
saw themselves in the light of divine truth. Like Peter's 
hearers on the day of Pentecost, " they were pricked in the 
heart." "The commandment came, sin revived, and (they) 
died." They saw what the law of God required. They saw, 
also, that they never had obeyed it in a single instance, and 
that their hearts were at enmity a.gainst God and not subject 
to his law. There was, it is true, a difference in the dealings 
of God with diflerent individuals, in respect to the degree and 
continuance of their convictions, and the strength and bitter- 
ness of their opposition. But in general the convictions of 
awakened sinners were distinctly marked. In the first stages 
of their concern, they were usually filled with alarm on account 
of their past lives. Seeing themselves in danger, they went 
about to establish their own righteousness ; hoping by their 
abundant religious services to appease the anger of God, and 
to secure an interest in his favor. But they were soon con- 
vinced of the futility of these efforts. The more they strove 
to make themselves better, the more they saw the worthless- 
ness of their own works. They were brought to see that they 
were actuated in all that they did by unholy motives ; and that 
so far from growing better, they were adding sin to sin, and 
sinking deeper and deeper in guilt and wretchedness. Thus 
they were convinced of their utterly lost condition, and of their 
entire dependance for salvation on the sovereign mercy of 



DR. NETTLETON. 229 

God. While in this state they were frequently sensible of the 
most dreadful heart-risings against God. 

Although they were convinced of the exceeding sinfulness 
of such feelings, yet they found themselves disposed to accuse 
their Maker of injustice in his commands and threatenings, and 
of partiality in the dispensation of his grace ; and when they 
saw others brought to rejoice in hope, while they were left, it 
sometimes filled them with the bitterest opposition. These 
discoveries of the desperate wickedness of their hearts occa- 
sioned the most acute distress. In some instances the mental 
agony was overwhelming. Such extreme distress was gene- 
rally of short continuance, and in most cases it was succeeded 
by joy and peace in believing. 

In proof of the deep feeling which occurred under Dr. Net- 
tleton's preaching, the reader is referred to the sketch of the 
revival in Nassau, inserted in a former chapter. 

But while Dr. Nettleton considered conviction of sin essen- 
tial to genuine conversion, and while his preaching and con- 
versation were adapted to give sinners a clear and distressing 
view of their true character and condition, yet he endeaA'ored 
to check all violent manifestations of feeling, by showing that 
they had in them nothing of the nature of religion ; and when 
he discovered any tendency to such manifestations in a reli- 
gious meeting, he would generally dismiss the assembly, and 
advise the people to retire in silence to their homes. 

The converts in these revivals were led in a vv^ay they 
knew not. Darkness was made light before them. Previous 
to their conversion, their duty had been clearly and faithfully 
urged upon them. They had been told that God required 
them immediately to repent, to believe in Christ, and to be 
holy in heart and life ; and that he would be pleased with 
nothing short of holy obedience. But they were blind to the 
beauty of holiness. They received not the things of the 
Spirit of God, for they were foolishness unto them, neither 
could they know them, because they were spiritually discerned. 
20 



230 MEMOIR OF 

Their hearts were opposed to all the spiritual duties which 
God required. The more they saw of God, of themselves, 
and of the terms of salvation, the more hopeless their condition 
appeared ; and thus their prospects became darker and darker, 
until light broke in from above. They did not feel that they 
had made themselves to differ from others by any efforts of 
their own. They did not suppose that they had gone through 
a process of means while unrenewed, by which they had made 
themselves new hearts. On the contrary, they knew that 
they had resisted every overture of mercy, and that all their 
feelings and moral actions were sinful, to the very moment 
when their hearts were renewed by the power of - the Holy 
Ghost. Consequently they took none of the glory to them- 
selves. They had no doubt that if they were the children of 
God, it was owing wholly to his distinguishing grace. 

As might be supposed from what has just been stated, the 
converts in these revivals cordially embraced the doctrines of 
grace, and were steadfast in their belief of them. They 
received them, both because they appeared to be clearly 
taught in the scriptures, and because they were in perfect 
harmony with their own experience. " They were born into 
the truth." The knowledge which they had obtained of their 
own hearts while under conviction, and the Avonderful change 
which had taken place in their views and feelings in relation 
to divine objects, were all in accordance with the evangelical 
system, and entirely at variance with the views of those who 
deny the doctrines of grace. It was no matter of doubt with 
them v/hether the natural heart is totally depraved, and unre- 
conciled to God. They knew it to be true in reference to 
themselves, for it had been matter of painful consciousness. 
They were of course convinced that salvation must be by 
grace through the redemption of Christ. They trusted alone 
in his righteousness for justification, and counted all things 
but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, 
their Lord. They were fully convinced of the necessity of 



DR. NETTLETON. 231 

regeneration by the special agency of the Holy Ghost ; for 
they knew that if they had passed from death unto life, they 
had '' been born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor 
of the will of man, but of God." They were also convinced 
that unless God had from all eternity determined to make 
some of mankind the trophies of grace, not an individual of 
the human race would obtain salvation. The doctrine of 
eternal and particular election, therefore, appeared to them to 
lie at the foundation of all hope in regard to the salvation of 
man ; and they rejoiced in the assurance that God hath from 
the beginning chosen some to salvation through sanctification 
of the spirit and belief of the truth — and in the promise that 
all true believers shall be kept by the power of God through 
faith unto salvation. The converts were generally so stead- 
fast in their belief of these doctrines, that their faith could not 
be shaken. They possessed, in an unusual degree, stability 
of character. They were not carried about by every wind of 
doctrine, nor often led astray by those who lie in wait to de- 
ceive. The religious exercises of the subjects of these revi- 
vals, so far as they could be known, were generally such as 
indicated a radical change of character. The whole current 
of their moral feelings seemed to be changed. What they 
had hated now they -seemed to love. Those objects which 
had awakened in their bosoms feelings of enmity, were now 
contemplated with supreme delight. Their affections were 
not such as could be traced to the operation of any natural 
principle of the human mind ; such as self-love or natural 
gratitude. They did not love God merely on account of his 
kindness to them ; but on account of the supreme excellency 
of his character. Their first consolation did not arise from 
the belief that God had pardoned their sins, and received them 
to favor, for in most instances when they first found peace 
they had no apprehensions that their sins were pardoned. 
When divine objects appeared to them in a new and pleasing 
light, they scarcely thought of their personal safety, or whether 



232 ' . ME 31 O I II O F 

they were or were not converted. They discovered a relish 
for di\ane objects to which they had been total strangers, and 
the truths of the gospel with which they had been contending 
were now objects of complacency. It was no uncommon 
thing for persons whose chief distress had arisen from the 
thought that they were in the hands of God, to find themselves 
unexpectedly rejoicing in that very thought, contemplating 
the glory of God as an object of higher importance than their 
own salvation ; and all this, while as yet they had no idea of 
having experienced a change of heart. It thus appeared that 
" the first objective ground" of their religious affections, was 
" the transcendently excellent and amiable nature of divine 
things, as they are in themselves, and not any conceivable 
relation they bear to self, or self-interest." 

What Edwards says of the converts in Northampton, was 
equally true of those of v/hom I am speaking. " It has more 
frequently been so among us, that persons have had the gospel 
ground of relief for lost sinners discovered to them, and have 
been entertaining their minds with the sweet prospect, while 
they have thought nothing at that time of their being converted. 
There is wrought in them a holy repose of soul in God 
through Christ, and a sweet disposition to fear and love him, 
and to hope for blessings from him in this way, and yet they 
have no imagination that they are now converted ; it does not 
so much as come into their minds.'''' 

There are religious affections, and they sometimes rise to 
a high degree, which are founded in self-love. Persons may 
think they love God, when their love arises entirely from the 
belief that God loves them, and that he has pardoned their 
sins, and given them a title to heaven. But such love is natu- 
ral to the human heart, and afifords no evidence of a super- 
natural change. " Sinners also love those that love them." 
Persons may be filled with joy because they have persuaded 
themselves, without any good reason, that their immortal in- 
terests are secured ; but such joy is selfish, and partakes not 



T>R. NETTLETON. 233 

of the nature of holiness. Sinners may be convinced that in 
order to he happy they must become the servants of God ; and 
they may resolve, for the sole purpose of securing their happi- 
ness to devote themselves to the service of God ; and having 
adopted the opinion that such a resolution is a change of heart, 
they may experience pleasurable emotions in the thought that 
they are interested in the divine favor. But such conversions 
imply no radical change of character, and will not endure the 
test of the judgment day. 

The conversions, in the revivals of which I am speaking, 
appeared to be widely different from these. If any cases 
occurred which appeared to be of this description, they were 
treated as spurious. If any persons professed to have expe- 
rienced a change of heart, and gave no other evidence than 
what is afforded by such religious affections as, to use the lan- 
guage of Brainerd, "have self-love for their beginning, centre 
and end," they were advised to abandon their hopes without 
delay. 

The converts in these revivals were not bold, forward, self- 
sufhcient and censorious ; but humble, meek, gentle, and 
docile. When we see those, who profess to have entered 
recently upon the christian life, lifted up with pride, wiser in 
their own estimation than their teachers — disposed to put 
themselves forward as leaders — abundant in their censures of 
old professors — full of self-complacency, and self-commenda- 
tion, there is reason to fear that they know not what manner 
of spirit they are of. Such is not the spirit of the gospel. 
" The wisdom which is from above is first pure, then peace- 
able, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good 
fruits, without jfertiality and without hypocrisy." Our Sav- 
iour said, " except ye be converted, and become as little chil- 
dren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." The 
little child is meek, humble, docile, confiding — and such is the 
spirit of the real children of God. When those who profess 
to have become subjects of divine grace, exhibit this spirit, 
20* 



234 MEMOIR OF 

they give evidence of being what they profess to be. And 
such appear to have been the converts generally in the revivals 
of which I am speaking. 

These revivals exerted a most benign influence upon the 
churches. They did not divide churches, and dissolve the 
relation between pastors and their flocks. On the contrary, 
they built up churches — healed divisions, where they had 
previously existed — promoted union and brotherly love among 
the members, and greatly strengthened the hands of pastors. 

One striking effect of these revivals, was to elevate the 
standard of orthodoxy. Dr. Nettleton preached with great 
plainness the doctrines of Calvinism. Under his preaching, 
these doctrines were seen to be the power of God unto salva- 
tion. It was in vain to object that they tend to paralyze effort 
and to harden men in stupidity. They were seen to produce 
the opposite effect. Sinners were pricked in the heart and 
brought to repentance. Saints were quickened and comforted, 
and incited to fidelity in their master's service. The converts, 
as we have seen, cordially embraced these doctrines, and were 
confirmed in their belief by their own religious experience. 
If creeds were altered, it was for the purpose of making them 
more Calvinistic. In many instances, where violent prejudices 
had existed against the Calvinistic system, they were over- 
come ; and some churches, which had been very lax in doc- 
trine, became sound in the faith. 

These revivals exerted a salutary influence upon society at 
large. They checked the prevalence of vice, raised the tone 
of moral sentiment, and elevated the standard of morals. So 
striking was the evidence that they were not the result of mere 
human agency, that few could resist the conviction that they 
were the work of God. In those days, such was the state of 
the public conscience, that the very name of a revival had 
wonderful power. Announce to a congregation that a revival 
had commenced in a neighboring town, and it would produce 
great solemnity on the whole assembly. The general feeling 



DR. NETTLETON, 235 

seemed to be, God has come nigh to us, and is calling upon 
us in solemn accents to prepare to meet him. This state of 
the public mind was the result of a careful observation of the 
effects of these revivals. They were seen to be good. This 
leads me to observe once more, 

The salutary fruits of these revivals were permanent. They 
were not temporary excitements which were soon over, and 
followed by a melancholy reaction ; but the good effects were 
abiding. The converts generally continued to adorn their 
profession. There were but few apostacies. 

Dr. Nettleton, in his letter to Dr. Beecher, inserted in the 
last chapter, says, " For a number of years I have kept a list 
of the names of those who have hopefully experienced religion, 
and made a profession of it in these revivals. 1 have watched 
them with anxious solicitude, and have made particular inquiry 
about the spiritual welfare of each one as opportunity pre- 
sented. The thousands who have professed Christ, in this 
time, in general, appear to run well. Hitherto I think they 
have exhibited more of the christian temper, and a better 
example, than the same number who have professed religion 
when there was no revival." 

If the reader will recur to the accounts given by ministers 
of the revivals among their own people, under Dr. Neltleton's 
preaching, inserted in the preceding chapters, he will perceive 
that they all bear testimony to the permanent good effects of 
his labors ; and such testimonials might be multiplied to a 
great extent. 



CHAPTER XII. 



His opposition to New Measures. 



In the year 1826, there was a great religious excitement in 
the central and western parts of the State of New York, occa- 
sioned principally by the labors of the Rev. Charles G. Finney, 
an evangelist of great zeal, and of considerable native elo- 
quence. He had been a lawyer, and having, as he hoped, 
been converted to Christ, he entered the ministry, with but 
little preparatory study. He was bold, ardent, and denuncia- 
tory in his manner. He rebuked with harshness and great 
severity, not only open transgressors, and impenitent sinners 
of every description, but professors of religion and ministers 
of the gospel ; and was not unfrequently very pointed and 
personal in his prayers. The consequence was, that he not 
only met with violent opposition from the open enemies of 
religion, but many of the most judicious ministers and private 
christians, felt unwilling "to sanction his proceedings. Others 
became his warm friends and adherents, and imbibing the 
same spirit, -denounced their brethren as " cold and dead, and 
enemies to revivals." Some young evangelists, in particular, 
attempting to imitate Mr. Finney, became much more extrav- 
agant than their leader. But a great excitement attended the 
preaching of Mr. Finney and his coadjutors, and multitudes 
were reported as the subjects of renewing grace. That very 
many of the reputed converts were like the stony ground 
hearers, who endured only for a time, few, I presume, will at 



DR. N K T T L E T O X . 237 

this day be disposed to deny. Yet, it is believed, that some 
were truly converted to Christ. 

Connected with this excitement, various measures were 
introduced, similar to those which in former times had been 
the great instruments of marring the purity of revivals, and 
promoting fanaticism — such as praying for persons byname — 
using great familiarity in prayer — encouraging females to 
pray and exhort in promiscuous assemblies — calling upon per- 
sons to come to the anxious seat, or to rise up in the public 
assembly to signify that they had given their hearts to God, 
or had made up their mind to attend to religion. The result 
was, that where this spirit prevailed, and these measures were 
introduced, there was division in the churches. Those who 
adopted these measures, often appealed to the example of Dr. 
Nettleton, and made use of his name to sanction their pro- 
ceedings. Those, however, who were acquainted with him 
and his labors in revivals, knew that these representations 
were not true. They knew that he never had introduced such 
measures, nor countenanced such a spirit as was connected 
with them. 

While these things were passing in the central and western 
parts of the State of New York, Dr. Nettleton, in very feeble 
health, was laboring in Jamaica, on Long Island, He was 
from time to time made acquainted with what was transpiring 
at the west, and was not without great solicitude as to the 
ultimate results. The lesson which he learned while labor- 
ing on the borders of Rhode Island, in those places which 
had been made desolate by the operations of Davenport and his 
coadjutors a century ago, had prepared him to resist every 
thing which tended to corrupt revivals and promote fanat- 
icism. 

He heard with inexpressible pain, that his own example 
was appealed to at the West, to sanction measures which he 
had always reprobated ; still, although constantly urged by 
some of his friends to come out with a public testimony, he 



238 M E M O 1 li O F 

was very reluctant to do it, nor could he be persuaded to pub- 
lish his views, till he was fully convinced that a regard to the 
interests of Christ's kingdom required it. 

In the winter of 1826-7, at the earnest request of some of 
his brethren, he visited Albany, while Mr. Finney was preach- 
ing at Troy. He had two interviews with Mr. Finney, hop- 
ing that by a free consultation, their views might be brought 
to harmonize, so far at least, that they might co-operate in 
promoting the interests of Christ's kingdom. But in this he 
was painfully disappointed. He found that Mr. Finney was 
unwilling to abandon certain measures which he had " ever 
regarded as exceedingly calamitous to the cause of revivals," 
and which, of course, he could not sanction. He perceived 
also that there could be no hope of convincing Mr. Finney 
of his errors, so long as he was upheld and encouraged by 
ministers of high respectability. After his second interview 
with Mr. Finney, he addressed a letter to the Rev. Mr. Aikin 
of Utica, a part of which is here inserted. It is dated, 
Albany, January 13, 1827. 

" Seven years ago, about two thousand souls were hopefully 
born into the kingdom, in this vicinity, in our own denomina- 
tion, with comparative stillness. But the times have altered. 
The kingdom of God now cometh with great observation. 
Opposition from the world is always to be expected. It is 
idle for any minister to expect a revival without it. But 
when it enters the church of God, the friends of Zion cannot 
but take the alarm. 

" There is doubtless a work of grace in Troy. Many sin- 
ners have hopefully been born into the kingdom ; but it has 
been at an awful expense. Many of our first ministers have 
visited the place, to witness for themselves. Such men as 
Dr. Griffin, Dr. Porter of Catskill, Dr. Nott, Mr. Tucker, Mr. 
Cornelius, and many more. Some of them have heard a 
number of sermons. After giving credit for preaching much 
truth, they uniformly say ' I never heard the names of God 



DR. NETTLETON. 239 

used with such irreverence.' Dr. Griffin gave me a number 
of specimens. I do not wish to retail them. The church in 
Troy is greatly divided. Some have taken a dismission ; 
others are consulting neighboring ministers about the path of 
duty ; and others are beginning to attend worship by them- 
selves. 

" But the worst is not told. The spirit of denunciation 
which has grown out of the mode of conducting the revivals 
at the West, is truly alarming. We do not call in question 
the genuineness of those revivals, or the purity of the motives 
of those who have been the most active in them. You, doubt- 
less, are reaping and rejoicing in their happy fruits. But the 
evils to which I allude, are felt by the churches abroad ; 
members of which have gone out to catch the spirit, and have 
returned, some grieved, others soured, and denouncing minis- 
ters, colleges, theological seminaries, and have set whole 
churches by the ears, and kept them in turmoil for months 
together. Some students in divinity have done more mischief 
in this way then they can ever repair. I could mention 
names, but for exposing them. Some ministers and profes- 
sors of religion have been to Troy, from the surrounding 
region, on purpose to catch the flame, and have returned 
home, saying, ' We do not want such a revival as- they have 
in Troy.' ******:n=* 

" The evil is running in all directions. A number of 
churches have experienced a revival of anger, wrath, malice, 
envy, and evil-speaking, Avithout the knowledge of a single 
conversion — merely in consequence of a desperate attempt 
to introduce these new measures. Those ministers and 
christians who have heretofore been most and longest ac- 
quainted with revivals, are most alarmed at the spirit vrhich 
has grown out of the revivals of the West. This spirit has, 
no doubt, greatly deteriorated by transportation. As we now 
have it, the great contest is amiong professors of religion — 
a civil war in Ziori — a domestic broil in the household of faith. 



240 MEMOIR OF 

The friends of brother Finney are certainly doing him and 
the cause of Christ great mischief. They seem more anxious 
to convert ministers and christians to their peculiarities, than 
to convert souls to Christ. 

" It is just such a contest as I have sometimes seen, in its 
incipient stages, in New England, between some young 
revival ministers on the one side, and whole associations of 
ministers on the other. The young revival ministers, wishing 
to extend the work into all the churches, in their zeal would 
enter the limits of settled pastors, and commence their opera- 
tions, and plead my own example for all their movements ; 
and so the war would begin. And all those ministers who 
would not yield the reins and sanction their imprudences, 
would be sure to be proclaimed as enemies to revivals. Being 
thus defeated, these young ministers would come to me to 
make their complaints, and to work on my mind the convic- 
tion that all those ministers were enemies to myself ; whereas 
the whole evil lay in a violation of all the rules of ministerial 
order and christian meekness, or in the inexperience, igno- 
rance, and imprudence of these young ministers. I am sorry 
to speak thus of my best friends ; but it is due to my brethren 
to say, that those very ministers, who had been thus slandered 
by my young brethren, have since come to me with tears, 
urging me to visit their flocks. There is not one of them but 
would bid me a welcome, and would rejoice in a revival ; but 
they would not invite these young ministers to preach for 
them, who had been so rash in their proceedings, and guilty 
of slandering them as stupid, and dead, and enemies of revi- 
vals. In this manner, some of the most promising young 
revival ministers have run themselves out, and lost the con- 
fidence of settled pastors and christians in general. 

" The spirit of denunciation which has grown out of these 
western revivals, seems to be owing to the implicit confidence 
which has been placed in the proceedings of just such young 
ministers as leaders. Thev dared not attempt to correct any 



DR. NETTLE TO X. 241 

of their irregularities, for fear of doing mischief, or of being 
denounced as enemies to revivals. This I know to be the 
fact. Brother Finney himself has been scarcely three years 
in the ministry, and has had no time to look at consequences. 
He has gone, with all the zeal of a young convert, without a 
friend to check or guide him. And I have no doubt that he 
begins with astonishment to look at the evils which are nm- 
ning before him. 

" The account which his particular friends give of his pro- 
ceedings, is, in substance, as follows : He has got ministers 
to agree with him only by ' crushing,' or ' breaking them 
down.' The method by which he does it, is by creating a 
necessity, by getting a few individuals in a church to join 
him, and then all those who will not go all lengths with him, 
are denounced as enemies to revivals ; and rather than have 
such a bad name, one and another falls in to defend him ; and 
then they proclaim what ministers, elders, and men of influ- 
ence, have been ' crushed' or ' broken down.' This moral 
influence being increased, others are denounced, in a similar 
m.anner, as standing out, and leading sinners to hell. And to 
get rid of the noise, and save himself, another will ' break 
down.' And so they wax hotter and hotter, until the church 
is fairly split in twain. And now, as for those elders and 
christians, who have thus been converted to these measures ; 
some of them are sending out private word to their christian 
friends abroad, as follows ; ' I have been fairly skinned by the 
denunciations of these men, and have ceased to oppose them, 
to get rid of their noise. But I warn you not to introduce 
this spirit into your church and society.' And so, brother 
Finney's supposed friends, men of influence, are sending out 
word to warn others to beware of the evils which they have 
experienced. I heartily pity brother Finney, for I believe him 
to be a good man, and wishing to do good. But nobody dares 
tell him that a train of causes is set in operation, and urged 
on by his own friends, which is likely to ruin his usefulness. 
21 



242 



MEMOIR OF 



" Whoever has made himself acquainted with the state of 
things in New England, near the close of the revival in the 
days of Whitefield and Edwards, cannot but weep over its 
likeness to the present. It is affecting, that the warm friends 
of Zion should unwittingly betray her best interests. But so 
was it then. The young itinerants, in their zeal to extend 
the work, began to denounce all those settled ministers who 
would not go all lengths with them. And then those mem- 
bers of churches who loved their pastors would assemble 
around to defend them ; while those who favored the itine- 
rants assembled around them, and imbibing their spirit, of 
course lost all confidence in a settled ministry : and so the 
churches were split in twain. The Spirit of God took its 
flight, and darkness and discord reigned for half a century. 
And those preachers who had taken the lead, having cultiva- 
ted such a spirit, began to fall into awful darkness themselves, 
when they saw the ruin that followed their labors. Some of 
them made and published their recantations to the world, 
which are now extant. But it was too late. A retribution 
followed. Some few of the young converts were called to 
order by David Brainerd, who passed through Connecticut at 
that time. But after their recantations, these leaders were 
generally denounced by their own followers. Could White- 
field, and Edwards, and Brainerd, and Davenport, now arise 
from the dead, I have no doubt they would exclaim, ' young- 
men, beware ! beware !' ***** 

" Some of brother Finney's younger brethren and friends 
may attempt to work on his mind the conviction that most of 
our ministers and churches are enemies to revivals, and un- 
friendly to himself. I feel it my duty to speak in their behalf. 
I know it to be a mistake. The best friends of revivals, as 
they have heretofore witnessed them, are certainly the most 
afraid to invite him into their churches, and are the most 
alarmed at the evils that are rising. And, I must say, that 



DR. NETTLETON. 243 

his friends are certainly .laboring to introduce those very 
measures, which I have ever regarded as ultimately working 
ruin to our churches ; and against which I have always 
guarded as ruinous to the character of revivals, as well as to 
my own usefulness. 

" For example : whoever introduces the practice of females 
praying in promiscuous assemblies, let the practice once be- 
come general, will ere long find, to his sorrow, that he has 
made an inlet to other denominations, and entailed an ever- 
lasting quarrel on those churches generally. If settled pas- 
tors choose to do it on their own responsibility, so be it. 
For one, I dare not assume so great a responsibility. In this 
way churches were once laid waste. And it is by keeping 
out, and carefully avoiding every thing of this kind, that some 
of them have again been built, others kept orderly, and the 
character of revivals, for thirty years past, has been guarded. 
If the evil be not soon prevented, a generation will arise, 
inheriting all the obliquities of their leaders, not knowing that 
a revival ever did or can exist, without all those evils. And 
these evils are destined to be propagated from generation to 
generation, waxing worse and worse. 

" The friends of brother Finney are afraid to interfere to 
correct any thing, lest they should do mischief, or be de- 
nounced as enemies of revivals. ' Brother Nettleton, do 
come into this region and help .us ; for many things are 
becoming current among us which I cannot approve. And I 
can do nothing to correct them, but I am immediately shamed 
out of it, by being denounced as an enemy to revivals.' Thus 
my ministerial brethren from the West, whose views accord 
with my own, have been calling to me, in their letters during 
the summer past. ' There is religion in it, and I dare not 
touch it. I see the evil, and tremble at the consequences ; 
but what can I do V This is the language of many of his 
warmest friends. And so the bad must all be defended with 
the good. This sentiment adopted, will certainly ruin revivals. 



244 MEMOIR OF 

It is the language of a novice : it is just as the devil would 
have it. If the friends of revivals dare not correct their own 
faults, who will do it for them ? I know no such policy. I 
vv^ould no more dare defend in the gross, than condemn in the 
gross. And those who adopt the former practice, will soon 
be compelled by prevailing corruptions, to take along with it 
the latter. The character of revivals is to be sustained on 
the same principles as that of churches, or individual chris- 
tians. If we would judge ourselves, we should not he judged. 
It is not by covering, but by confessing and forsaking, that 
pure revivals are to prosper. In this manner their character 
has long been sustained. Things have not been left to run 
to such lengths in our day. A strong hand has been laid on 
young converts, old professors, and especially on zealous 
young ministers, as many of them now living can testify. I 
have been afraid to kindle fires where there was not some 
spiritual watchman near, to guard and watch against wildness, 
for which I might become responsible. Some students in 
divinity have caught and carried the flame into neighboring 
towns and villages, and no doubt have been the means of the 
salvation of some souls. But I am sorry to say, that some of 
them have run before me into the most populous places, and 
have carried their measures so far, and have become so dicta- 
torial and assuming, that, in the opinion of the most judicious 
and influential ministers of my acquaintance, they have done 
far more mischief than good. They have pleaded my exam- 
ple for many measures, which, as to time and circumstances, 
I utterly condemn. Some of the means which I have never 
dared to employ except in the most interesting crisis of a 
powerful revival, they have caricatured in such a manner, 
and raised such prejudices against myself among strangers, 
that they have caused me much trouble. My plans have 
been laid to visit many towns and cities, ^nd have been 
wholly defeated by these students in divinity thus running 
before me. I have been much grieved, and exceedingly per- 



DR. NETTLETON. 245 

plexed on this subject. They assume an authority, unwit- 
tingly I allow, and adopt measures, which no ordained minis- 
ter could do, without ruining his usefulness. Evils arising 
hence, have uniformly been arrested in their progress, by my 
taking the part of settled pastors among their flocks ; at a 
great expense of feeling, on the part of my young friends, no 
doubt; but the cause of revivals evidently required it. 

*' I have been anxiously looking and waiting, all summer 
long, for such men as yourself and Mr. Lansing, and others 
most intimately acquainted with brother Finney, to take hold, 
with a kind severity, and restore order ; but in vain. It is not 
expected that a powerful revival can exist among imperfect 
beings, without more or less irregularity and opposition ; but 
it is expected that these things will generally subside, and 
leave the churches in a more peaceful, happy, and flourishing 
state than ever. This has uniformly been the case, where 
revivals have prevailed. But irregularities are prevailing so 
fast, and assuming such a character, in our churches, as infi- 
nitely to overbalance the good that is left. These evils, 
sooner or later, must be corrected. Somebody must speak, or 
silence will prove our ruin. Fire is an excellent thing in its 
place, and I am not afraid to see it blaze among briers and 
thorns ; but when I see it kindling wdiere it will ruin fences, 
and gardens, and houses, and burn up my friends, I cannot be 
silent. 

" Had the evil been checked in the commencement, it would 
have been an act of kindness to brother Finney, and great 
gain to the cause of revivals. He would have found ministers 
every where bidding him welcome. His help is every where 
greatly needed. For a settled pastor, the entire confidence 
of other ministers would not be so important. But, whoever 
undertakes to promote revivals, by running through the world, 
in this age of revivals, must have the entire confidence of set- 
tled ministers generally ; otherwise he will unsettle ministers, 
and desolate churches, wherever he goes. Without their 
21* 



246 MEMOIR OF 

hearty co-operation, he will certainly labor at great disadvan- 
tage : as if a mariner, steering his ship in a storm at sea, 
in his zeal should quit the helm, and ply his strength at the 
mast. 

" The practice of praying for people by name, in the closet, 
and the social circle, has no doubt had a beneficial effect. 
But, as it now exists in many places, it has become, in the 
eye of the christian community at large, an engine of public 
slander in its worst form. I should not dare, in this solemn 
manner, to arraign a fellow-sinner before a public assembly, 
without his own particular request, unless my expressions 
were of the most concihatory kind. And no christian minis- 
ter, whatever his character may be, can adopt the practice, 
without awakening the indignation of the world at large, and 
of christians generally, against him. Much less can it be 
done by any body, and every body, who takes it into his head 
positively to decide the question, and to tell God and the 
world, that such and such persons are unconverted. I do not 
believe, whatever may be the effect upon the individual thus 
named, that God will regard such a prayer in any other light 
than as that of a proud, self-righteous Pharisee. 

" There is another interesting topic that lies near my heart ; 
but the time would fail me to express my views and feelings 
on the subject. That holy, humble, meek, modest, retiring 
form, sometimes called the Spirit of Prayer, and which I have 
ever regarded as the unfailing precursor of a revival of reli- 
gion, has been dragged from her closet, and so rudely handled 
by some of her professed friends, that she has not only lost all 
her wonted loveliness, but is now stalking the streets in some 
places stark mad. 

" Some, in their zeal on the subject of the 'prayer of faith., 
are tormenting others with their peculiar sentiments, which, if 
correct, every body sees must equally condemn themselves ; 
thus rendering themselves and their sentiments perfectly 
ridiculous. 



DR. N E T T L E T O N . 247 

" I have given you but an imperfect sketch of my own and 
the views of our brethren abroad on this subject ; but I assure 
you, as a whole, it is not overdrawn. How to correct these 
growing evils I cannot tell. Our brethren, far and near, some 
of brother Finney's best friends at the West not excepted, by 
letter and otherwise, have long been urging me to lay the sub- 
ject fully before him. The evils which have existed abroad 
have certainly been very much concealed from him and his 
friends. It is certainly right that he should know something 
of the evils which have run from under him ; and the feelings 
of the friends of Zion at large. 1 have nothing to say to him 
in the style of crimination or controversy. I have been too 
long on the field of battle to be frightened about little things, 
or to make a man an oifender for a word. For Zion's sake, I 
wish to save brother Finney from a course which I am con- 
fident will greatly retard his usefulness before he knows it. 
It is no reflection on his talents or piety, that, in his zeal to 
save souls, he should adopt every measure which promises 
present success, regardless of consequences ; nor. after a fair 
experiment in so noble a cause, to say, I have pushed some 
things beyond what they will bear. The most useful lessons 
are learned by experience. 

" I wish I had health and strength to show brother Finney 
my whole heart on this subject. I have long been wishing to 
correct some of his peculiarities, that I might invite him into 
my own field and introduce him to my friends. Aside from 
feeble health, one consideration only has prevented me from 
making the attempt. Some of his particular friends are urg- 
ing him on to the very things which I wish him to drop. I 
fear that their flattering representations will overrule all that 
I can say. And having dropped these peculiarities, his labors 
for a while might be less successful ; and then he would 
resort again to the same experiment. But I can inform him, 
that the same measures which he has adopted, have been vig- 
orously and obstinately pursued in New England, against the 



248 MEMOIR OF 

repeated advice of settled pastors, and that too, by one of the 
most powerful and successful ministers that I have ever 
known, until confident of his own strength, he quit them all, 
with this expression, ' We will see who will answer by fire' — 
a most unhappy expression, as he afterwards told me with 
tears. The result was, he lost his usefulness in our denom- 
ination. Some of his spiritual children, now excellent men in 
the ministry, have never dared to adopt his measures, but have 
uniformly opposed them. Others, some ministers and laymen, 
who followed him, became disorganizers ; and the leader 
himself turned Baptist, and soon after died. 

There is another method of conducting revivals, which 
may avoid these difficulties. Settled pastors occupy nearly 
the whole field of operation. They have, and ought to have, 
the entire management in their own congregation. Each one 
has a right to pursue his own measures, within his own limits ; 
and no itinerant has any business to interfere or dictate. It 
will ever be regarded as intermeddling in other men's matters. 
If they do not choose to invite me into their field, my business 
is meekly and silently to retire. And I have no right to com- 
plain. But many young men are continually violating the 
rules of ministerial order and christian propriety in these 
respects. Impatient to see the temple rise, they are now 
doing that, which, it appears to me, will tend ultimately, more 
than any thing else, to defeat the end which they wish to ac- 
complish. They are now pulling down, in many places, the 
very things which I have been helping ministers to build up ; 
and for which I have often received their warmest thanks. 
It is a sentiment which I have had frequent occasion to repeat 
to my young brethren in the ministry, ' Better forego the pros- 
pect of much present good, in your own opinion, than to lose 
the confidence of settled ministers, without which you cannot 
be long and extensively useful.' 

" There is, certainly, another and a lawful point of attack 
on the kingdom of darkness, which, when you have taken, and 



DR. NETTLETON. 249 

It is seen, possesses wonderfiii advantages. It will give lio 
offence to the church of God. It will be sure to rally around 
you every faithful soldier of the cross. Though it may seem 
too slow and silent in its operation, yet, being the lawful 
method of conducting this warfare, it will secure the confidence 
of ministers and christians, the consciences of the wicked, and 
a crown of glory. . 

" And now, brother, I have ventured to lay before you the 
subject of my prayers and tears, and I may add, the subject 
which brought me back to a region which I never expected to 
visit again. If you discover any thing in this communication 
unchristian or unkind, you will pardon it. If, in your opin- 
ion, it can do no mischief, or will do any possible good, you 
are at full liberty to show it to brother Finney, or any of 
the friends of Zion whom it may concern. We will lay the 
subject at the feet of our Divine Master, and there will we 
leave it. 

Yours, in the best of bonds." 

The letter from which the foregoing extracts are taken, with 
some other documents, was published in a pamphlet in 1828. 
In a note appended to it. Dr. Nettleton says — 

" The above letter was written sometime last December, 
immediately after a second interview with Mr. Finney. From 
personal conversation with himself, but more particularly with 
his friends, I learned that they had adopted and defended 
measures which I have ever regarded as exceedingly calam- 
itous to the cause of revivals. 

" This letter was written originally as an expression of my 
own views, and the views of my brethren generally, on this 
subject, without intending to send it to any one. As my opin- 
ion was repeatedly solicited on this subject, by the friends of 
Mr. F., I thought it best to give it in writing. Accordingly, 
this letter was read at different times, to not less than twenty 
ministers, and to some who had adopted the measures in ques- 
tion. In this silent manner, I labored for a number of weeks, 



250 MEMOIR OF 

hoping to persuade the latter to drop them ; but to my surprise 
I found that my own name was continually employed to give 
them sanction ; nor was it in my power to prevent this perver- 
sion, without publishing my views to the world. 

"As preparatory to publishing, and to cut off occasion for 
after complaints, it was thought best that I should delay no 
longer sending a communication to some one or more of our 
brethren in the Oneida Presbytery. The above ' document' 
is one, and only a small part of what I have written to the 
members of that body. What I have done in laying the sub- 
ject before them, was not done without the knowledge and 
approbation of the watchmen of Israel, the long, the tried, the 
acknowledged friends of Zion." 

The letter, although addressed to Mr. Aikin, was intended 
for the perusal of Mr. Finney and his friends. Soon after it 
was received, Mr. Finney prepared and preached at Utica, a 
sermon on the text, " How can two walk together except they 
be agreed." This sermon was understood to be a vindication 
of the things complained of in Dr. Nettleton's letter. It was 
afterwards preached in Troy and published. Dr. Nettleton 
made some remarks on this sermon, in a letter addressed to 
the Rev. Dr. Spring, of New York, which was first published 
in the New York Observer, and afterwards in the above-men- 
tioned pamphlet. I make the following extracts. 

" Durham, N. Y., May 4th, 1827. 
" My Dear Brother, 

" I have read brother Finney's sermon, from the words, 
' How can two walk together except they be agreed ^ ' The 
principle, on which it rests, is contained in the following 
sentences : 

" ' If any thing even, upon the same subject, that is far above 
or below our tone of feeling, is presented ; and if our affec- 
tions remain the same, and refuse to be enlisted and brought 
to that point, we must feel iminterested, and perhaps grieved 



DR. NETTLETON. 251 

and offended. If the subject be exhibited in a light that is 
below our present tone of feelings, we cannot be interested 
till it come up to our feelings. If this does not take place, we 
necessarily remain uninterested. If the subject be presented 
in a manner that is far above our tone of feeling, and our affec- 
tions grovel, and refuse to rise, it does not fall in with, and 
feed our affections ; therefore we cannot be interested ; it is 
enthusiasm to us, we are displeased with the warmth in which 
our affections refuse to participate ; and the farther it is above 
our tem.perature, the more are we disgusted. These are 
truths to which the experience of every man will testify, as 
they hold good upon every subject, and under all circumstan- 
ces, and are founded upon principles that are incorporated 
with the very nature of man.' 

" Now all this, so far as christians and true religion are con- 
cerned, I take to be false in theory, contrary to fact, and dan- 
gerous in its consequences. Present to the mind of the 
christian, whose holiness and flaming zeal shall equal that of 
Paul, the least degree of holiness in any saint, and he will not 
be offended, but interested. He would be greatly delighted 
with even ' babes in Christ.' And the higher the tone of his 
piety and holy feeling, the greater will be his delight, even 
' upon the same subject.' Now, raise the tone of pious feeling 
up to that of the spirits of just men made perfect, and holy 
angels, and still they will not lose their interest, ' even upon 
the same subject.' They will rejoice even over one sinner 
that repenteth, far more than will those whose feelings fall to 
the level of the penitent himself. 

" Nor is it true that christians are always better pleased 
with those, whose tone of feeling is on a level with their own. 
The least saint on earth loves holiness in others, and rejoices 
in their growth in grace. And he loves those most, whose 
tone of holy feeling is raised farthest above him ; and for the 
same reason, he loves the Saviour more than all. Every child 
of God, who reads his bible, is better pleased with the high 



252 MEMOIR OP 

toned piety of Job, and Daniel, and David, and Isaiah, and 
Paul, than he is with that of other saints, whose piety falls 
below theirs, or to the level of his own. What christian can 
read the memoirs of Edwards and Brainerd, without deep 
interest ? I know of no christian that does not read them 
with far greater interest than he would have done, had they 
exhibited far less of the spirit of Christianity. And though 
christians feel condemned, by their high-toned piety, yet for 
this very reason, they are not ' offended and grieved,' but love 
them the more. Though christians are not up to the tone of 
piety exhibited by David and Paul, Edwards and Brainerd, 
yet they are highly delighted, and could walk together with 
them. 

" Again, take the example of our Saviour. No christian 
on earth is better pleased with any other. Though many of 
his friends have died and gone to heaven, whom he still loves, 
yet the Christian can say, ' whom have I in heaven but thee, 
and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.' The 
tone of the Saviour's pious and holy feeling is raised far above 
that of all his followers. Hence, according to the sentiment 
of the sermon, he could have had no followers on earth, and 
can have none now. Ail his disciples must have been ' dis- 
pleased with his warmth.' And the higher it rose ' above their 
temperature, the more they must have been disgusted.'' 

" Present to the mind of the christian the holy character of 
God. Is not this subject far above the tone of the feelings of 
any man ? Now according to the sentiment of the sermon, if 
our affections are not brought to that point, we must feel ' un- 
interested, grieved and offended.' According to the principle 
of his own sermon, brother Finney and his friends cannot 
walk with God, for they are not agreed. It must be ac- 
knowledged, that God has an infinitely higher tone and degree 
of holy feeling than brother Finney. He is not ' up to it.' 
Consequently, on his own principles, they cannot be agreed. 
God is displeased with him, and he with God. Brother Fin- 



DR. NETTLETON. 253 

ney must ' necessarily'' be displeased with high and holy zeal 
in his Maker, which so infinitely transcends his own ; and the 
' farther it is above his temperature, the more he will be dis- 
gusted.'' ' These are truths,' he observes, ' to which the 
experience of every man will testify, as they hold good upon 
every subject, and under all circumstances, and are founded 
upon principles that are incorporated with the very nature of 
mdn. 

" The sermon in question entirely overlooks the nature of 
true religion. It says not one word by which we can distin- 
guish between true and false zeal, true and false religion. If 
the tone of feeling can only be raised to a certain pitch, then 
all is well. The self-righteous, the hypocrite, and all who are 
inflated with pride, will certainly be Hattered and pleased with 
such an exhibition ; especially if they are very self-righteous 
and very proud. False affections often rise far higher than 
those that are genuine ; and this every preacher, in seasons 
of revival, has had occasion to observe and correct. And the 
reason of their great height is obvious. There are no salutary 
checks of conscience, no holy, humble exercises to counter- 
act them in their flight. And they court observation. 'A 
Pharisee's trumpet shall be heard to the town's end, when 
simplicity walks through the town unseen.' If the preacher 
is not extremely careful to distinguish between true and false 
atlections, the devil will certainly come in and overset the 
work, and bring it into disgrace. False zeal and overgrown 
spiritual pride, will rise up and take the management, and con- 
demn meekness and humility, and trample upon all the christian 
graces, because they are not ' up to it.' 

" Matters of fact which have passed under my own obser- 
vation, might serve as illustration. I have often seen it ; and 
the preacher who has not been tried with this subject, and 
learned to correct it, has not got his first lesson. 

" Leaving out of the question the nature of true religion, as 
brother Finney has done out of his sermon, there is a sense in 
22 



254 MEMOIR OF 

which his theory perfectly accords with experience and mat- 
ters of fact. So far as false zeal and false affections are con- 
cerned, the principle of the sermon is correct. A and B are 
very zealous, and extremely self-righteous ; and being equally 
so, they can walk together, for they are agreed. Both having 
come up to the same tone of feeling with brother Finney in 
his sermon ; — now they are all agreed, and all pleased, having 
done all that the preacher required. Now the zeal of A 
' strikes far above the tone of feeling ' in his fellow, and both 
are 'displeased, grieved, and offended.' B does not come to 
the tone of A and ' therefore he cannot be interested ; it is en- 
thusiasm — lie is displeased with the warmth in which his 
affections refuse to participate ; and the farther it is above his 
temperature, the more he is disgusted.' The christian and the 
hypocrite may come up to the same tone of feeling ; and yet 
they cannot walk together, for other reasons. The character 
Ox^ their affections differs as widely as light and darkness. 
And the higher their affections rise, the wider the distance 
between them. And no tone or degree of feeling can possibly 
bring them together. Every effort of the preacher to unite 
them by raising the tone of feeling, will only increase the 
difficulty. This, too, accords with experience and matters of 
fact. Hence, those who adopt the same creed, and belong to 
the same communion, can have no fellowship. Though they 
are up to the same tone of feeling, and feel deeply, yet they 
cannot walk together, for they do not feel alike. Feelings 
which are not founded on correct theology cannot be right. 
They must necessarily be spurious, or merely animal. 

'' Without great care and close discrimination, the preacher 
will unwittingly justify all the quarrels and divisions in our 
churches. The church at Corinth valued themselves on their 
great spirituality, and high attainments in religion. Now on 
the principle of the sermon in question, their divisions and 
quarrels could be no evidence to the contrary, but much in 
their favor. Each one esteeming others worse than himself, 



DP.. NETTLETON. 255 

would conclude that the whole difficulty lay in their not com- 
ing up to the tone of his own feelings. And this sermon 
would have confirmed them all in their good opinion of them- 
selves. But Paul told them that the very contrary was true. 
' For Avhereas there is among you envying, and strife, and 
divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men.' Without the 
same care, the preacher will condemn others for keeping the 
unity of the spirit in the bond of peace ; and for ' being of one 
accord and of one mind.' That peace, and harmony, and order, 
in which Paul so much rejoiced, will be disturbed, and broken, 
and trampled upon, by disorganizing spiritual pride, under a 
pretence that all are ' cold, and carnal, and stupid, and dead, 
and not up to the spirit of the times.' All who are thus infla- 
ted, will take the advantage of this sermon, and be sure to con- 
strue all opposition to their own disorganizing movements and 
measures, into an evidence of superior piety in themselves. 
And all false converts, and others inflated with spiritual pride, 
will join them, if great care be not taken to discriminate be- 
tween true and false zeal, and to give the distinguishing marks 
of both. Spiritual pride will often court opposition, and glory 
in it, and sometimes adopt the sentiment, ' The more opposi- 
tion the better.' ******* 

" All who are acquainted with the history of facts on the 
subject, know that it was on the principles of the sermon in 
question, that the revival was run out in the time of Edwards, 
and in Kentucky and Tennessee, rising of twenty years since. 
And all those ministers who do not discriminate between true 
and false zeal, true and false affections, in their preaching and 
conversation, and make that difference, and hold it up to the 
view of the world, if possible, clear as the sun, heartily 
approving of the one, and as heartily and publicly condemning 
the other, will turn out to be the greatest traitors to the cause 
of revivals. They become responsible not only for the senti- 
ment in question, but also for all the corruptions which prevail 
in consequence of this neglect. The neglect of ministers to 



256 MEMOIR OF 

correct these evils for fear of doing mischief, or of being 
denounced as carnal and cold-hearted, or as enemies to revi- 
vals, is extremely puerile and wicked. On the same principle 
they must not attempt to correct intemperance and profane 
swearing in church members, lest they should be ranked 
among the wicked, as infidels and enemies to Christianity. 
The sentiment in question would, if carried out into all its 
consequences, defend every abomination in religion that could 
be named. It would soon come to this : that the only evidence 
that ministers are cold, and carnal, and stupid, and dead, is, 
that they cannot approve of every art, and trick, and abomina- 
ble practice in laymen, women, and children, in their attempts 
to promote a revival. And their approbation of all these 
abominations would be taken as a good sign, and as an evi- 
dence that they are awake. Whereas none but carnal and 
cold-hearted ministers would be influenced by such mean 
motives. It is only a trick of the devil, to frighten the watch- 
man of Israel from his post, that he may get possession of it 
himself; or, what he would like still better, by such base 
motives to entoil and enlist him in his service, by compelling 
him to adopt his own measures. So did not Paul. His two 
epistles to the Corinthians contain little else than a humbling 
disclosure of abominable practices and quarrels about men 
and measures in promoting a revival. So did not Edwards. 
Though he was denounced at first, he could not be frightened ; 
but frightened his denouncers, some of them at least, into a 
public recantation. A denouncing spirit is that with which 
real christians have no fellowship, and are bound to shun. 

" Without regard to the admonition, 'take heed to thyself,' 
the preacher will be in danger of trampling upon the divine 
direction, ' In meekness instructing those that oppose them- 
selves.' 

" ' The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle 
unto all men.' ' Be kindly afiectioned, be pitiful, be cour- 
teous.' He will be in great danger of condemning the ' meek- 



DR. N E T T L E T O N 257 

ness and gentleness of Christ,' under the names of ' carnal 
policy' and ' hypocritical suavity of manner.' The preacher 
should be extremely cautious what he says against ' wisdom 
and prudence,' as a mark of ' puffing up' in his brethren ; lest 
he trample upon the authority of his Divine Master, in the 
precept given him upon the same point : — ' Behold I send 
you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves : be ye therefore 
wise as serpents and harmless as doves.' His precept is 
founded on the fact that wicked men may become more 
offended with what is wrong in manner, than with what is right 
in matter. Hence the preacher may lose their consciences, 
and the devil has gained the victory. If the wicked voill 
oppose, it becomes us to be careful how v/e furnish them with 
successful weapons against us. If we regard the direction of 
Christ, even though they rage, we may still keep our hold 
upon their consciences ; and so long as we can do this, we 
need not despair of the victory. But when the preacher has 
lost the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the 
dove, the contest will end in a sham-fight, and the sooner he 
quits the field the better. 

" Paul would allow none to be teachers but those of ' full 
age, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to dis- 
cern both good and evil.' Hence he would not license young 
converts to preach. ' Not a novice, lest being lifted up with 
pride he fall into condemnation, reproach, and the snare of 
the devil.' So far as his message was concerned, the apostle 
himself went forth, ' saluting no man by the way' — ' not as 
pleasing men.' Aside from the simple truth of that message, 
no man was ever more yielding and flexible in manner and 
measures. ' Give no offence, neither to the Jews, neither to 
the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.' ' Even as I please 
all men in all things — that they may be saved.' ' I am made 
all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.' 
Was this ' carnal poUcy V and was Paul ' in a very cold state 
when he wrote that V 
22* 



258 MEMOIR OF 

" The wisdom of the measures adopted and recommended 
by Paul, appear from the fact that sinners may be more 
offended with what is wrong in manner than with what is right 
in matter. If the preacher does not hold a balance between 
conscience and depravity, he can do nothing. The very fact 
that the unrenewed heart is so opposed to God and the gospel, 
has by some been assigned as a reason for stirring up all' its 
opposition. Whereas, aside from the simple exhibition of 
divine truth, Paul adopted a method directly the opposite. If 
the vigil.ince of human depravity should exceed the vigilance 
of the preacher in his manner and measures, by this very 
means he will quiet the consciences of his hearers. Regard- 
less of his manner, Paul would have lost his hold on the 
consciences of sinners, and needlessly and wickedly have 
sent his hearers to a returnless distance from the gospel. This 
made him exceedingly careful ' lest he should hinder the 
gospel of Christ.' Since mankind will oppose, we should be 
careful not to put weapons of successful defense into their 
hands. While they oppose, we should be careful to keep 
their consciences on our side. 

" A powerful religious excitement badly conducted, has ever 
been considered by the most experienced ministers and best 
friends of revivals, to be a great calamity. Without close 
discrimination, an attempt to raise the tone of religious feeling 
will do infinite mischief. This was the manner of false 
teachers. ' They zealously affect you, but not well.' It will 
be like that of Paul before his conversion, and like that of 
the Jews who were never converted, ' a zeal of God but not 
according to knowledge.' The driving will become like the 
driving of Jehu, 'Come, see my zeal for the Lord.' The 
storm, and earthquake, and fire, are dreadful ; but God is 
not there. 

" The design of these remarks is to show the infinite im- 
portance of distinguishing between true and false zeal, — true 
and false affections. 



DR. NETTLETON. 259 

" On reading the sermon in question, I was reminded of the 
repeated complaints which for some time past I have heard 
from the most judicious, experienced and best revival ministers 
in the West ; the substance of which is as follows : ' There 
are various errors in the mode of conducting revivals in this 
region, which ought to be distinctly pointed out. That on the 
prayer of faith. This talking to God as a man talks to his 
neighbor, is truly shocking — telling the Lord a long story 
about A or B, and apparently with no other intent than to 
produce a kind of stage effect upon the individual in question, 
or upon the audience generally. This mouthing of words ; 
those deep and hollow tones, all indicative that the person is 
speaking into the ears of man, and not to God. I say nothing 
of the nature of the petitions often presented ; but the awful 
irreverence of the manner ! How strange that good men 
should so far forget themselves, as evidently to play tricks in 
the presence of the great God.' 

" ' I have often been struck with this circumstance in the 
mode of preaching, that nothing was heard of the danger of 
a spurious conversion. For months together, the thought 
never seemed to be glanced at, that there was any such thing 
as a Satanic influence in the form of religion, but only as 
openly waging war against all religion. Such a character as 
an enthusiastic hypocrite, or a self-deceived person, seemed 
never to be once dreamed of. The only danger in the way 
of salvation was coldness, deadness aiid rank opposition. On 
no occasion did the eye ever seem to be turned to another 
quarter in the heavens.' 

" The last paragraph contains the thought to which I allude. 
The sermon in question bears striking marks of the same char- 
acter. It is an important part of a preacher's duty in a season 
of powerful revival, to discriminate between true and false 
conversion. Without this, every discerning christian knows 
that the work will rapidly degenerate. The most flaming 



260 MEMOIR OF 

spiritual pride will be taken for the highest moral excellence, 
and will rise up and take the lead. 

" Preachers who have not guarded well this avenue in 
seasons of powerful excitement, have always done more to 
arrest, and disgrace, and run out revivals, than all the cold- 
hearted professors and open enemies of religion together. It 
was this neglect in some zealous preachers, that run out the 
revival in the days of Edwards, and which led him to write 

his Treatise on the Religious Affections. 

********* 

" It is of the highest importance that the preacher present 
to his hearers the distinguishing marks of true religion, the 
graces of the Spirit, in all their native loveliness ; and at the 
same time, that he detect and expose every counterfeit. 
Having done this, he may labor with all his might to bring 
them up to the highest possible tone. He may exhort them 
to the exercise of ' Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentle- 
ness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance ; and to be kind- 
ly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love, in honor 
preferring one another. That they walk with all lowliness 
and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in 
love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond 
of peace = That they let nothing be done through strife, or 
vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others 
better than themselves. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and 
anger, and clamor, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, 
with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender-heart- 
ed, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath 
forgiven you. Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto 
the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be 
clothed with humility.' lie may exhort them 'to put on, as 
the elect of God,— and be covered all over with these shining 
graces, — bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, 
meekness, long-suffering, fo]ibearing one another : even as 
Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all things, put 



DR. NETTLETON. 261 

on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.' He may set 
their hearts all on fire with that heavenly Form — ' so pure, 
so peaceable, so gentle and easy to be entreated, full of 
mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypoc- 
risy :' — that is so ' long-sufFering, so kind, enneth not, is not 
puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her 
own, is not easily provoked ; thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not 
in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth ; beareth all things, be- 
lieveth all things, hopeth all things, and never faileth.' These 
are the prevailing characteristics of a revival of religion. 
Their absence cannot be compensated by flaming zeal. 

" Nor is it sufficient that these and all other Christian 
graces be exhibited, and their counterfeit exposed in theory 
alone. For so hypocrites will claim them all as their own. 
Profession is not principle. ' By their fruits ye shall know 
them.' ' Who is a wise man ? Let him show out of a good 
conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.' 

' Easy indeed it were to reach 
A mansion in the courts above, 
If watery floods and fluent speech, 
Might serve instead of faith and love.' 

" The most important part of the preacher's duty is, to ex- 
hibit the evidence of their existence in the heart, by corres- 
ponding actions in the life. And this, too, by being ' ensam- 
ples to the flock ;' and by carefully copying the example of 
his Divine Master, ' beseeching them by the meekness and 
gentleness of Christ.' 

" As the time would fail me to complete the subject, Ed- 
wards may, in part, supply this deficiency in brother Finney's 
sermon. I would therefore take this opportunity to recom- 
mend to all young converts a careful perusal of his account 
of the revival in New England, /owr^A part, and what he says 
on the marks of true humility and spiritual pride, of which the 
following is a brief abstract : 



262 MEMOIR OF 

" Spiritual pride disposes one to speak much of the fauhs 
of others, and with bitterness, or with levity, and an air of 
contempt. Pure christian humility rather disposes a person 
to be silent about them, or to speak of them with grief and 
pity. Spiritual pride is very apt to suspect others ; an hum- 
ble saint is most jealous of himself. The spiritually proud 
person is apt to find fault with others that are low in grace, 
and to be much in observing how cold and dead they be, and 
crying out of them and sharply reproving them for it. The 
humble christian has so much to do at home, with his own 
heart, that he is not apt to be very busy with the hearts of 
others, and is apt to esteem others better than himself, and to 
take most notice of what is good in them, while he takes most 
notice of what is wrong in himself. In his clearest discove- 
ries of God's glory, and in his most rapturous frames, he is 
most overwhelmed with a sense of his own vileness, and feels 
the deepest self-abasement. 

" It is a mark of spiritual pride, when any are disposed to 
speak of what they see amiss in others, in the most harsh, 
severe, and terrible language ; saying of their opinions, or 
conduct, or advice, of their coldness, their silence, their cau- 
tion, their moderation, and their prudence, that they are from 
the devil, or from hell ; that such a thing is devilish, or hellish, 
or cursed, and the like ; so that the words devil and hell are 
almost continually in their mouths. And especially, when 
such language is used towards ministers of the gospel, and 
others whose age or station entitles them to particular respect. 
Humility leads the christian to treat others that are in fault, 
with meekness and gentleness, as Christ did his disciples, and 
particularly Peter, when he had shamefully denied him. 

" Spiritual pride disposes to affect singularity in manner 
and appearance, for the purpose of attracting observation. 
Humility disposes the christian to avoid every thing which is 
likely to draw upon him the observation of others, and to be 
singular only where he cannot be otherwise without the neg- 



DR. NETTLETON. 263 

lect of a plain and positive duty. Spiritual pride commonly 
occasions a certain stiffness and inflexibility in persons, in 
their own judgment and their own ways. Humility inclines 
to a yielding, pliable disposition. The . humble christian is 
disposed to yield to others, and conform to them, and please 
them, in every thing but sin. 

" Spiritual pride disposes persons to stand at a distance from 
others, as better than they. The humble christian is ready 
to look upon himself as more unworthy than others, yet he 
does not love the appearance of an open separation from vis- 
ible christians ; and will carefully shun every thing that looks 
like distinguishing himself as more humble, or in any respect 
better than others. 

" The eminently humble christian is clothed with lowliness, 
mildness, meekness, gentleness of spirit and behavior, and 
with a soft, sweet, condescending, winning air and deport- 
ment. Humility has no such thing as roughness, or contempt, 
or fierceness, or bitterness, in its nature, which things are 
marks of spiritual pride ; as are also invectives and censo- 
rious talk concerning particular persons for their opposition, 
hypocrisy, delusion, pharisaism, and the like. 

" Spiritual pride takes great notice of opposition and inju- 
ries that are received, and is often speaking of them. Hu- 
mility disposes a person rather to be, like his blessed Lord 
when reviled, dumb, not opening his mouth. The more 
clamorous and furious the world is against him, the more silent 
and still will he be. 

" Spiritual pride leads those who are reproached, to be 
more bold and confident, and to go greater lengths in that for 
which they are blamed. Humility leads to improve the 
reproaches of enemies as an occasion of serious self-exam- 
ination. 

" Spiritual pride leads to a certain unsuitable and self-con- 
fident boldness before God and man. Humility leads to the 
opposite. 



264 



MEMOIR OF 



" Assuming is a mark of spiritual pride : putting on the airs 
of a master, to whom it belongs to dictate. Humility leads 
the christian to take the place of a learner, to be ' swift to 
hear, slow to speak.' The eminently humble christian thinks 
he wants help from every body, whereas he that is spiritually 
proud, thinks every body wants his help. Christian humility, 
under a sense of others' misery, entreats and beseeches; 
spiritual pride affects to command and warn with authority. 

" If young ministers had great humility, it would dispose 
them especially to treat aged ministers with respect and 
reverence, as their fathers, notwithstanding that a sovereign 
God may have given them greater success than they have 
had. 

" It is a mark of spiritual pride to refuse to enter into dis- 
course or reasoning with such as are considered carnal men, 
when they make objections and inquiries. Humility would 
lead ministers to condescend to carnal men, as Christ has 
condescended to us, to bear with our unteachableness and 
stupidity, and still follow us with instructions, line upon line, 
precept upon precept, saying, ' come, let us reason together ; ' 
it would lead to a compliance with the precept, ' Be ready 
always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a 
reason of the hope that is in you with meehiess and fear.' 

" Such are some of the marks of spiritual pride and true 
humility pointed out by President Edwards. The abstract 
is given as much as possible in his own words. The whole 
of what he says on the subject deserves the most serious 
consideration. 

" The friends of religion have been so much gratified with 
that beautiful hymn by Newton, that I shall venture to insert 
it in my letter : 

TRUE AND FALSE ZEAL. 

" Zeal is that pure and heavenly flame 
The fire of love supplies ; 
While that which often bears the name, 
Is self in a disguise. 



DR. NETTLETON. 265 

True zeal is merciful and mild, 

Can pity and forbear ; 
The false is headstrong, fierce and wild, 

And breathes revenge and war. 

While zeal for truth the Christian warms, 

He knows the worth of peace ; 
But self contends for names and forms, 

Its pajty to increase. 

Zeal has attained its highest aim, 

Its end is satisfied, 
If sinners love the Saviour's name, 

Nor seeks it aught beside. 

But self however well employed, 

Has its own ends in view ; 
And says, as boasting Jehu cried, 

' Come, see what I can do.' 

Dear Lord, the idol self dethrone, 

And from our hearts remove ; 
And let no zeal by us be shown. 

But that which springs from love." 

Your affectionate brother, 

ASAHEL NETTLETON." 
^'Rev. Dr. Spring." * 

The publication of the foregoing letters subjected Dr. Net- 
tleton to great reproach. Many, however, who were at that 
time disposed to blame him, have long since been convinced, 
not only that he was actuated by a conscientious regard to the 
honor of God, and the good of Zion, but that he evinced great 
wdsdom and foresight. 

There were those at that period, whose views accorded 
with his own, and who entirely approved of his course. The 
following testimonial appeared in the New York Observer. 

" Boston, Nov. 8, 1827. 
" It having been represented to some of the subscribers, 
that we disapproved of the proceedings of the Rev. Mr. Net- 
tleton, in reviewing a sermon preached at Troy, March 4, 
23 



266 MEMOIR OF 

1827, and in opposing the sentiments and practices which it 
seemed intended to vindicate and extend ; we regard ourselves 
as called upon by a sense of duty to say, that the proceedings 
of Mr. Nettleton, appear to us to have been characterized by 
uncommon intellectual vigor, correct and comprehensive views 
of the interests of the church, and by distinguished wisdom, 
fidelity, firmness, and benevolence, well adapted to promote 
the interests of pure religion throughout the land." 
Signed, 
Lyman Beecher, Justin Edwards, 

A. S. Norton, Heman Humphrey, 

William R. Weeks, C. J. Tenney, 

H. R. Weed, J. Hawes. 

The views expressed in the foregoing testimonial were the 
views entertained by the Congregational ministers generally 
in New England, and by a large proportion of the Presbyte- 
rian ministers in the United States. 

I have before me several letters written by the late Rev. Dr. 
Richards, Professor of Divinity in the Theological Seminary 
at Auburn, from which it appears'that he sympathized deeply 
with Dr. Nettleton on the subject of new measures. The fol- 
lowing was written, after having read in manuscript the letter 
to Mr. Aiken, from which some extracts are inserted , at the 
begiiming of this chapter. 

" Auburn, Feb. 22d, 1827. 
" My Dear Brother — 
" At what a solemn crisis have we at length arrived, and 
how strange it is, that some who appear to be among the best 
friends of God, should adopt opinions and practices, which are 
likely to be of such deleterious consequence. Surely this 
should carry us to the throne of the Great King, and excite us 
to the most humble and earnest supplication. But is this all? 
It appears to me that it is time for the sober friends of revivals, 
to lift up their voice, and to declare distinctly, their views ol 



DFw. NETTLE TON. 267 

the present state of things, and of the causes which have led 
to it. I perfectly concur with Dr. Beecher, and yourself, on 
this subject. 

" As to the novel measures, which have been adopted in 
relation to revivals, my opinion has all along been precisely 
what it is now, except that I supposed at first, they were the 
offspring of extraordinary excitement, and would probably be 
relinquished as the excitement should subside. But presently, 
however, I began to think there was ground to fear that the 
abettors of them were acting from erroneous speculations on 
the subject, and that their operations were matter of deliberate 
contrivance, and would probably be pursued as part of a sys- 
tem. At every step of their progress, I became more convin- 
ced that they had a plan, the result of new and extraordinary 
light, and that their object was, to revolutionize the churches. 
Of late, I hav^e had no doubt that my apprehensions were well 
Ibunded ; and I shall be disappointed if any private reasoning 
or remonstrance shall produce any important effect upon the 
minds of those good brethren, who have, in my judgment, 
become erratic in this matter. ***** 

My opinion is, that your letter to the Rev. Mr. Aiken, ought 
to be immediately published. Your long acquaintance with 
revivals, and the success which has attended your efforts, will 
give weight to your opinions ; and if the public will not hear 
your voice, they will hear nobody. But they will hear it, and 
you must speak, though others should rejoin. 

" My brethren, the professors, all unite in the most cordial 
salutations. 

Respectfully and affectionately yours, 

James Richards." 

" Rev. A. Nettleton." 

In another letter dated June 23d, 1827, Dr. Richards says, 
"Your review of Mr. Finney's sermon, has gone to the very 
core of the business, and will surely be effective in dissipating 



268 MEMOIR OF 

much of the illusion which is connected with these mournful 
innovations. They call it severe, but I call it just, and as 
timely as it is just. I think you may greatly felicitate your- 
self, for having written just such a thing. In my judgment 
the cause of truth demanded it. The sermon was founded 
upon a principle, which, if admitted, would sanction every 
species of wiidness and enthusiasm ; — or if it did not directly 
sanction, it would furnish a defense for the greatest extrav- 
agance that ever disgraced the religious world." 

The Rev. Dr. Porter, of Catskill, in a letter dated June 14th, 
1827, and published in the pamphlet which contains Dr. Net- 
tieton's letters to Mr. Aiken, and Dr. Spring, says, " Whatever 
might have been Mr. Finney's design, it is perfectly clear to 
my understanding, that the principle laid down and advocated 
in his sermon, opens the door for the introduction of all those 
extravagances, so often witnessed in religious conferences and 
prayer meetings, and that Mr. Nettlelon's remarks on said 
sermon are in point ; and that they have no severity beyond 
the demands of sober truth. Mr. Nettleton has done what a 
faithful minister of the gospel, and a friend to revivals of reli- 
gion, and one who has had so much experience in them, was 
in duty bound to do." In the same letter he says, " In re- 
spect to Mr. Nettleton's remarks on Mr. Finney's sermon, Dr. 
Griffin is willing to have it said and published, that he consid- 
ers the remarks ^ just what they should he.'' He also mentions 
the names of a number of other distinguished ministers, whose 
views he knew to agree with his own, as Drs. Hyde, Shepard, 
Spring, Blatchford, McAuley, and Messrs, Tomb, Prime, 
Lyman, Rogers," &c. 

In the note appended to the letter addressed to Mr. Aiken, 
Dr. Nettleton speaks of that letter as being one of several 
which were written by him to members of the Oneida Pres- 
bytery. I have before me, imperfect copies of three long let- 
ters which were never published, two of which were addressed 



DR. NETTLETON. 269 

to the Rev. John Frost, of Whitesborough, and one to the 
Rev. Messrs. Frost and Coe. There is much in these letters 
that is interesting, and would my limits permit, I should be 
glad to make copious extracts. The following is from a letter 
to Mr. Frost, dated Durham, N. Y. March 28, 1827. 

" You think that the ministers in our region erred in not 
doing as you did, ' receive brother Finney with open arms.' 
To tell you the truth, brother, the ministers and other chris- 
tians, from this region, and from New England, who visited 
Oneida county last summer, saw with their own eyes, so 
many things which they deplored, that it was the universal 
opinion far and near, that irregularities were prevailing to such 
an alarming extent, that the character of revivals had gone hack 
half a century. And this I knew to be the sentiment of our 
best ministers more than three months before I visited Albany. 
They were all deploring the introduction of these new meas- 
ures into our churches, knowing that they were the same 
which ran out the revivals in the days of Edwards ; and so 
they were watching and guarding against the introduction of 
them into their own churches, long before I came to Albany. 
It was the universal sentiment of ministers, while I was 
laboring in Jamaica last summer, that they should not dare 
employ a preacher in their churches who adopted these meas- 
ures. This I knew to be the fact from personal conversation 
with scores of ministers and private christians who visited 
me in Jamaica. I repeat the idea for the sake of impressing 
it on your memory — that ministers do not complain so much 
of irregularities existing at the West : for probably they are 
not so great within your own limits, as they are in the 
churches into which they have been transferred abroad. And 
even had these evils been a thousand fold greater at the West, 
you would not have heard the mournful complaints of your 
brethren at a distance, had it been in your power to confine 
the whole evil within the limits of your own churches and 



270 MEMOIR OF 

congregations. Your brethren know that you have the right, 
and are willing that you should exercise it, of pursuing your 
own measures, when you can take all the responsibility. But 
when tidings came that these new measures had been intro- 
duced into Troy, Lansingburg, and Albany, by brethren from 
the West, and that all the ministers and christians in those 
places, and all who visited those places and could not ap- 
prove of these measures, were denounced as ' cold and 
stupid, and dead, and enemies to revivals, and leading sinners 
down to heir — which things in this region w^ere generally 
known to be facts long before I came to Albany ; the alarm 
was greatly increased. And now, under these circumstances, 
how can you think it so strange that ministers did not receive 
their brethren from the West ' with open arms V Why, 
brother, this was the very evil which they dreaded, and against 
which they had been guarding for months. For, the moment 
one of these brethren was received with open arms, the name 
of that minister who received him, was made use of all over 
the. country, to sanction these men, and all their calamitous 
measures. It was this very thing, and nothing else, which 
placed brother B. in a situation where he must fall out with 
brother F. and his measures, or all those ministers and chris- 
tians who could not be converted to these measures. There 
was no alternative. Brother B. could not serve two masters, 
and so a shameful war was commenced in our Zion, merely 
in consequence of the introduction of these new measures. 
Now place yourself in the situation of settled ministers in 
this region, and then say whether you would be willing to 
receive with open arms men, whose measures had done so 
much mischief in the opinion of all your brethren, and so 
lend the influence of your respected name to give these meas- 
ures your sanction. 

" Again — It was well known that there were ministers 
within your own limits, and those too who had the confidence 
of the christian public, who would not receive brother F. into 



DR. NETTLETON, 



their pulpit, so long as they could avoid it without losing the 
confidence of their own people. xA.nd it was further known 
that some who did receive him, did it with trembling anxiety 
for the consequences. And can you think it strange, that 
ministers who knew, and who had talked over all these things, 
should not receive him with open arms ? 

" xAnd besides ; — It is believed by many that even now, 
your Presbytery would not care to employ brother F. within 
your own limits, long in one place. If this be a fact, there 
must be something wrong somewhere ; either in brother F., 
or in the hearts of your Presbytery. For, the minister, 
whose preaching on the whole, exerts a healthful influence, 
will establish himself, not only in the affections, but in the 
confidence of ministers and people ; and in such a manner 
as will render his return, and his labors on the same field, far 
more desirable than ever. ***** 

" On' other subjects, mankind, and even ministers, exer- 
cise far more wisdom and common sense, than on the subject 
of religion. Nobody ever thought of making a skillful phy- 
sician, politician, or warrior, at once — but most of our young 
men, vrarm hearted christians, and even old ministers them- 
selves, do take it for granted that a skillful minister can be 
made out of a ' novice,' at once. And ministers of influence 
must be to blame, if they do not accomplish the task. 

" In estimating the talents requisite for an itinerant preacher, 
other considerations are no less important than intellect, or 
piety itself. And these qualifications cannot be known a 
priori. Nothing but actual experiment can develope the pow- 
ers of a man to do good in revivals, and at the same time to 
secure the confidence of christians and ministers wherever 
he goes. I could tell you of facts to illustrate my remarks. 
I could tell you of some excellent young men, who could not 
fail to do good, where they were w^ell known, and under the 
eye of settled ministers to control their movements ; but who, 
on going into different parts of New England and elsewhere, 



272 MEMOIR OF 

would do some good for a while, but ultimately, far more 
mischief, and would certainly have lost their own character, 
had they not been privately called away from that field. In 
this way, I think I have saved some of our own young minis- 
ters from losing all their influence, and so from leaving our 
own denomination. When they have fallen out with settled 
pastors, I never thought of disputing the point, who was to 
blame. Evangelists have no more right to intermeddle with 
ministers and their flocks, than they have with their families, 
wives, children, and domestic concerns ; and any murmuring 
complaints on this point, go on the supposition, that an evan- 
gelist may lord it over all the pastors and their flocks." 



CHAPTER XIII. 



His Doctrinal Views and interest in the recent Theological Controversy. 

Dr. Nettleton was a New England Calvinist. Although 
he called no man master, but took the Bible as his only rule 
of faith ; yet the system of doctrines maintained by Edwards, 
Bellamy, D wight, and other standard theological writers of 
New England, he believed to be the system taught in the 
Scriptures. 

The peculiar doctrines of the Calvinistic system, such as — 
The Decrees of God — The Total Depravity of Man by Na- 
ture — Regeneration, by the special agency of the Holy 
Spirit — Particular Election to Eternal Life — Justification by 
Faith alone — and the Perseverance of the Saints, as they 
were maintained by the divines above mentioned, he not only 
believed, but fearlessly avowed and defended. 

A few extracts from his sermons, presenting his theologi- 
cal views, on some of these points, may be interesting to the 
reader. 

The following is from a sermon on the Decrees of God, 
founded on Ephes. i. 11 . 

" God never acts without design or determination. Thus 
to act, would be to act without wisdom. He has a perfect 
plan, defined exactly according to his own will, as asserted 
in the text. This counsel denotes his design, purpose, or 
decree respecting all events." * * * * 

" If God has not decreed the existence of future events. 



274 MEMOIR OF 

neither the existence, nor time, nor manner of such events, 
could possibly be foreknown. The Omniscient God views 
all things as eternally present. Yet, as he existed before all 
tilings, his knowledge of all things must have consisted in the 
knowledge of all future events. Or thus — He must have had 
a present and perfect knowledge of all things, while as yet, 
there was no actual existence but himself. He alone has 
existed from eternity ; yet he is eternally Omniscient. The 
actual existence of all things must have been future and 
known to be future, by the self-existent and Omniscient 
Jehovah. 

" But future events must become certain o^ existence before 
their existence can be certainly known. Though what is fore- 
known is equally certain of existence ; yet mere knowledge 
cannot be the ground of this certainty. On the contrary, in 
the order of nature, absolute certainty is the ground of all 
knowledge. Now what could be the ground of the certain 
existence of all events, in their time, order, and perfect har- 
mony ; and what could make them eternally the objects of 
present, certain, intuitive knowledge in the Infinite Mind, 
while as yet there were none of them in actual existence ? 
' What but the eternal purpose of him who worketh all things 
after the counsel of his own will ?^ If the world, or any event, 
could he certainly future, with the time and circumstances of 
its existence, without being made so by the decree of God, 
then it can actually exist without him. On this supposition, 
we are left without any proof of the existence of God." 

" Infinite wisdom is a complex attribute. It implies not 
only infinite knowledge, but infinite benevolence, and com- 
prehends the whole moral character of God. I observe, then, 
that leaving out the eternal counsel or decree of God, no just 
conceptions can possibly be formed of his moral perfections. 
Infinite wisdom consists in discerning and proposing the high- 



DR. NETTLETON. 'Zi D 

est and best possible end, and in determining to pursue the 
best means to accomplish it." * * * * 

" If God has not eternally determined to accomplish all that 
which Omniscience sees to be best, he is neither infinitely 
wise nor infinitely good ; unless infinite wisdom and goodness 
imply perfect indifference to the existence of the greatest pos- 
sible good. Would we ascribe the perfection of infinite wis- 
dom to God ? It consists essentially in his fixed and immuta- 
ble determination to accomplish all that which Omniscience 
sees to be best. An infinitely wise plan is infinitely holy, 
just and good. This plan, the Omniscient God views not 
with indifference. But in a Jixed and immutable determina- 
tion to accomplish this plan consists essentially the infinite 
wisdom, holiness, justice, and goodness of God." 

** 9^ ****** 

" But it will be asked, if God has decreed the actions of 
men, how can they be free ? That man is free, and that God 
has decreed his actions, are plain matters of fact. Both are 
clearly taught in the Scriptures. That we are free in our 
actions we have as clear and certain evidence, as we have of 
our own existence. That the decrees of God are accomplish- 
ed by the free and voluntary actions of men, we have the 
plain and direct testimony of the Bible, ' A7id truly the son of 
man goeth, as it icas determined ; hut ico unto that wMn hy ivhom 
he is betrayed.'' — Luke xxii. 22. ' Him being delivered by the 
determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, yc have taken 
and with wicked hands have crucified and slain^ — Acts ii. 23. 
' For of a truths, against thy holy child Jesus, ichom thou hast 
anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and 
the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever 
thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.'' — Acts 
iv. 27, 28. ' And when they had fulfilled all that was loritten 
of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in the 
sepulchre.'' ' Without the shedding of blood there is no remis- 
sion.^ 



276 MEMOIR OF 

" Has God offered his Son a sacrifice for sin ; — or has he 
not ? Did Christ lay down his life for his sheep 1 and did he 
make his soul an offering for sin, when the Jews put him to 
death ; or did he not ? When they wounded, and bruised, and 
crucified him, was he wounded for our transgressions, and 
bruised for our iniquities ; or was he not ? If the hand and 
counsel of God was not in it, who will dare to say with the 
prophet — ' The Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all V 

The following is taken from a sermon on Ps. xcrii. 1, the 
object of which is to show, that it is a matter of rejoicing that 
God governs the universe. 

" All the objections which I have ever heard against the 
doctrine of decrees, or election, may be reduced to this one : 
If God operates on the hearts of sinners, and causes them to 
act, how can they be free ? My hearers, am I bound to ob- 
viate this objection ? Does it lie against none but those who 
hold the doctrine of God's decrees ? We will drop the doc- 
trine of decrees. How is it then ? Does God operate on the 
hearts of men, or does he not ? If not, then we must not pray 
that he would do it. * * No person can pray for him- 
self, without admitting that God may operate on his own heart, 
and yet he be free. ' Turn thou me, and 1 shall he turned^ — 
' Turn us, O God of our salvation^ — ' Draw us and we will run 
after thee'' — ' Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a 
right spirit within me.'' These prayers are found in the Bible. 
But persons ought not to have prayed in this manner, if God 
could not answer their prayers without destroying their free 
agency." * * * " jN[o person can pray for others without 
admitting that God may operate on their hearts, and yet they 
be free. However wicked mankind may be, we cannot pray 
that he would stop them in their career of sin, because he 
cannot do it without destroying their freedom." " Christ de- 
clared, ' Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life^ Sin- 
ners are then in an awful condition. They will not come to 
Christ ; and God cannot make them willing, without destroy- 



DR. NETTLETON. 277 

ing their freedom. What shall be done ? It will be of no 
use to pray for them. * * The grand objection, therefore, 
which is so often urged against the doctrine of decrees, lies 
with equal force against the duty of prayer." * * " Let the 
inquiry now be made, does God govern all his creatures, and 
all their actions ? Does he govern the actions of wicked 
men and devils ? No, says one ; — he cannot do it without 
destroying their freedom. No, says another ; he cannot do it, 
without becoming the author of sin. My object is not now to 
prove the doctrine that God does reign over wicked men and 
devils ; but simply to show that this is a desirable thing ; and 
that if he can thus reign over wicked men and devils, it is in- 
deed matter of great rejoicing." * * * "If God cannot 
govern wicked beings, without destroying their freedom, or 
becoming the author of sin, and therefore must resign his 
dominion over them, or let them alone, the universe is truly 
in an awful condition. Let us for a moment contemplate the 
condition v/e are in. Cast your eyes abroad and see how the 
wickedness of men prevails. The adversary of souls goeth 
about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. What 
then shall be done 1 God cannot govern these beings, it is 
said, without becoming the author of sin. The Church of 
Christ is truly in a lamentable condition. What w^ill become 
of the church, we know not ; for the devil has come down with 
great lorath. He will do all he can to destroy the kingdom 
of Christ on earth. He will do all he can to destroy heav- 
en itself. What shall be done ? We live under a government 
which can afford us no protection. Wicked men and devils 
are let loose upon us. They have entered the dominions of 
Jehovah, and are now fast subverting his kingdom. * * * 
Nothing can be done. The work of desolation must go on 
through all eternity ; for God cannot govern their actions 
without destroying their freedom, or becoming the author of 
sin. Thus, my hearers, you see the condition we are in. 
It is gloomy and awful beyond expression." 
24 



278 MEMOIR OF 

In a sermon from Eph. ii. 1, he traces the analogy between 
natural and spiritual death, and thus illustrates the doctrine of 
total depravity. 

" In natural death, there are no remains of life. It cannot 
be said of a man that he is dead, as long as there is the least 
glimmering of life remaining. 

" So of the sinner spiritually dead. There is no spiritual 
life, or holiness in him. If there was, it w^ould not be true 
that he is dead. The apostle does not say that they were half 
dead, or almost dead, but he asserts that they were dead. If 
this is not entire depravity, my hearers, then those bodies in 
yonder graveyard, are not dead. 

" Men, naturally dead, will never raise themselves to life. 
Never was it heard since the world began, that a body once 
dead, ever reanimated itself. So it is with sinners. Though 
as it respects blame, the cases are not parallel, yet as it 
respects the certainty of the event, they are exactly parallel. 
Left to himself, the sinner will as certainly remain in his sins, 
as the dead will continue to sleep in their graves. 

" With respect to those naturally dead, no means can effect 
their resurrection to life. No skill, no attachment of surviving 
friends, no exertions, no tears can do it. So with sinners ; no 
means that can be used, can raise them to spiritual life. Pa- 
rents may be anxious for the souls of their children. They 
may labor, and weep over them ; but they cannot help them. 
The faithful minister of the gospel may love the souls of his 
hearers — he may labor and exert himself in every possible 
way to awaken and promote the conversion of sinners, and 
his soul may weep in secret places for them ; but he cannot 
awaken a single soul. Aside from divine influence, he might 
sound an alarm over the graves of the departed, wfth equal 
propriety, and equal success." 

The foUovv^ing is from a sermon on the doctrine of regene- 
ration, founded on .lohn i : 12, 13. 

" That the Holy Spirit m.akes use of the word, and many 



DR. NETTLETON. 279 

instruments, to bring sinners to Christ, I have no doubt. But 
that men are naturally inclined to approve of, and obey the 
precepts of the gospel, is contradicted by the whole tenor of 
the scriptures. It is a fundamental principle of the gospel, 
that by nature we are children of wrath, and that we are at 
enmity with God, blinded to the light of his truth, and dead 
in trespasses and sins. To suppose that the Holy Spirit is 
communicated to all in a sufficient manner to save them, is 
entirely inconsistent with the idea of any special grace, and 
makes one man as much born of God, as another. Our text 
says, as many as received Christ, and believed on his name, 
were born of God ; and the doctrine of the undistinguishing 
influences of the Spirit, cannot be maintained. It is a stum- 
bling-block in the way of many, that God should give more of 
his Spirit to one, than to another. To remove this subject of 
prejudice, Pelagius, and multitudes more, have maintained, 
that all men receive gifts alike, and are alike furnished to the 
work of their salvation. This entirely dispenses with the 
new birth, or makes it alike common to every man. On this 
scheme, Judas had as much grace as Paul ; and Ahab, who 
sold himself to work wickedness, as David, the man after 
God's own heart. All the difference between them was 
owing to the different manner in which they improved their 
privileges. I do not deny that the Spirit of God strives with 
all men who are not reprobates. I fully admit it. I admit 
that the promises and threatenings of the gospel, would be 
sufficient to persuade us to a holy life, if our understandings 
were not darkened, and our affections depraved. But as it is, 
I deny that common gi'ace makes us sons of God, or that we 
are persuaded to be christians without a special divine influ- 
ence, or that all men receive the same measure of the Spirit. 
After all preparatory means — all the promises and threaten- 
ings of the gospel — all the operations of common grace — and 
all exertions of unregenerate sinners, they must be born of 
God in order to become his children. There must be a new 



280 MEMOIR OF 

creation — a work accomplished by Almighty power — a sove- 
reign, special, supernatural work, like making a world, or 
raising the dead, (as to the power exerted ;) and without such 
a work, no one can ever see the kingdom of God. Persuasion 
is not sufficient to make men new creatures. If the Holy 
Spirit operates on the minds of men, only by setting motives 
before them, be the kinds ever so diverse, or well adapted to 
this purpose, yet after all, it depends on the will of man, 
whether he shall be regenerated or not. On this scheme, the 
glory of regeneration belongs to ourselves. No new taste — 
no new spiritual discernment, springs from persuasion. If 
regeneration comes thus, then a man begets himself — he is 
born of himself — he makes himself to differ from others. On 
this plan, the Holy Spirit has no more to do than Paul, or 
Apollos. -Besides — this is not what we pray for. We pray 
not that motives may be set before us to persuade us to regen- 
erate ourselves ; but that God would change us — create us 
anew. ****#*** 

" There is, then, only one way left, for a creature dead in 
trespasses and sins, to rise to life. This is by the power of 
God which quickens him. The same energy which brought 
Christ from the dead, the exceeding great power of the living 
God, must perform the work. Such a work being proved, the 
whole system of evangelical truth — the doctrines of grace — of 
divine sovereignty — of election — of redemption by Christ — 
of human depravity — and others connected with them, all 
flow from it. There is one grand, harmonious, and perfect 
system — and God is the sum, the substance, and the glory 
of all." 

In a sermon from Acts xviii. 10, he undertakes to show 
that " the doctrine of election furnishes the only ground of 
encouragement to the use of means." This position he estab- 
lishes by showing the utter inefficacy of all means, when not 
accompanied by the blessing of God. The following is the 
close of the sermon- " From this subject we may infer the 



t> K . N E T T L E T O N , 281 

mistake of tliose who consider the doctrine of election a dis- 
couraging doctrine. Are there not many present, who are 
still without God and without hope in the world ? They have 
spent the best of their days in sin. All means have hitherto 
proved ineffectual. So many years of their probation have 
gone, and they are still enemies of God. They have heard 
the gospel, and have rejected it. Permit me to summon these 
individuals to the bar of their own consciences. 

" 1 would ask you, what reason have you to believe that 
the gospel which you have heard in vain for so many years, 
will take effect when your hearts are still more hard ? I 
would that you might feel the difficulty. We have no more 
powerful means than those which have already been used. 
Now, if you deny the doctrine of election, where is your hope ! 
We will suppose that the doctrine is not true — that God will 
leave you to do as you have done, and leave the means to 
operate as they have done. Is this encouraging ? Deny the 
doctrine of election, and there is not a sinner in this assemTDly 
v/ho has the least reason to conclude that he shall ever be 
saved. 

" Perhaps some of my hearers are displeased with this 
doctrine, and hope that it is not true. Then let me address 
you on your own ground. Whether this doctrine be true or 
false, it is an eternal truth acknowledged by all, that ' except 
ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.^ Strike out the doctrine 
of election ; yet the doctrine of regeneration is true. ' Verily, 
verily, I say unto you^ except a. man he horn again, he cannot see 
the. kingdom of God.'' Strike out the doctrine of election, and 
let the means operate just as they have done, yet the doctrine 
of faith is true. ' He that helieveth not shall he damned.'' Here 
is a given character which all the heirs of salvation must pos- 
sess. Now you are at liberty to become christians on the 
easiest plan you can. If you will repent, and believe, and be 
born again, you shall be saved, whatever may become of the 
doctrine of election. 

24* 



282 MEMOIR OP 

" But why have you not repented, and believed, and become 
christians already ? Why do you stand disputing about this 
doctrine, when you know that you must repent, and believe, 
and be born again, or be lost ? What will your disputing 
about this doctrine accomplish ? If it be true, disputing will 
not alter it. Is it necessary for you to prove the doctrine to 
be false, before you can repent ? If you will repent, the 
doctrine of election will not hurt you if it be true. But if it 
be not true, then you have got to repent, and believe, and be 
born again, without it ; and it is high time that you were in 
earnest on the subject. 

" If you say, you cannot repent, unless God grant you 
repentance ; — that is the same as to say, you cannot repent 
unless the doctrine of election is true. For if the doctrine of 
election is not true, it is certain that God has not determined 
to grant repentance to one of the human race. If this doctrine 
is not true, it is certain that God has not determined to grant 
you repentance. 

" Instead of troubling yourselves about the doctrine of elec- 
tion, I Avill show you a more excellent way. Begin to trouble 
yourselves about your own wicked hearts. The day of sal- 
vation is drawing to a close ; — and what have you done ? 
and w^here are you now ? Hitherto you have rejected all the 
melting invitations of a bleeding Saviour ; and where are you 
now ? Hitherto you have resisted the Holy Ghost ; and 
where are you now ? 

" In spite of the offers of heaven — the calls of a bleeding 
Saviour — the invitations, commands and threatenings of Al- 
mighty God, you have hitherto resisted ; and will you con- 
tinue to force your way down to hell ? There is but a gleam 
of hope. ' Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die V 

" Come, O thou Spirit of the Lord, and breathe upon these 
slain, that they may live." 

A sermon from Phil. i. 6, contains a very able discussion 



DR. NETTLETON. 283 

of the doctrine of the saints' perseverance. The followino- 
is one of his inferences. 

" We see a reason why angels rejoice at the repentance of 
ofie sinner. If angels did not believe this doctrine, they could 
have no ground on which to rejoice. They must wait till the 
sinner gets to heaven. 

" The true penitent will certainly arrive safe at the man- 
sions of the blessed. A firm belief of this doctrine, lays the 
only foundation for joy in heaven over his repentance. If 
angels did not firmly believe this doctrine, their joy would be 
unfounded. Their language would be, that sinner has truly 
repented. He is now a child of God — an heir of heaven. 
But whether he will ever reach this happy place — whether he 
will ever sing with us in glory, is a matter of great uncer- 
tainty. He may yet become a child of the devil, and an heir 
of hell. Could we know that he would certainly arrive safe 
at heaven, we miight now tune our harps, and sing glory to God 
in the highest. But since we have already been disappointed, 
and devils and damned spirits are now triumphing over some 
at whose repentance we once rejoiced, it is best to wait and 
see how they hold out. Hear them triumph in the regions of 
despair. ' Ye angels,' say they, ' Ye may suspend your songs, 
and hang up your harps. Let your joy be turned into mourn- 
ing. Victory is ours.' 

" What think ye, my hearers ? Has there been joy in 
heaven over some who are now in hell ? If they so rejoiced 
at the news of the sinner's repentance, what messenger shall 
carry back the mournful tidings that he is lost ?" 

Another inference is, 

" That there may be such a thing as the full assurance of 
hope in this life. If the doctrine is not true, the best christian 
on earth must be altogether uncertain of heaven. But it being 
true, we learn on what the full assurance of hope is founded. 
So far as the christian can be certain that the good work has 



284 MEMOIR OF 

been begun in his soul, so far he can be certain of arriving at 
heaven. 

'* It is surprising that some who deny this doctrine, will yet 
say that they are certain of heaven. This is plainly absurd. 
If one christian may fall away and finally perish, then another, 
and another may ; and so all may be lost. Not one can have 
assurance of salvation. 

" I remember a short conversation on this subject, of- the 
following import. 

" A person who denied this doctrine, was expressing his 
joy in believing. He was interrogated on this subject. ' Why 
do you rejoice, my friend ? Do you think there is any certain 
connection between your believing now, and your final salva- 
tion V He. perceived that if he answered in the affirmative, 
he must admit the doctrine, and so he replied in the negative. 
The question was then put to him, ' if there is no certain con- 
nection between your present belief, and your final salvation, 
why do you rejoice V He replied, ' because my sins are for- 
given.' ' But why rejoice because your sins are forgiven ? 
You say, you have no evidence that you are not to suffer in 
hell for your sins after all. Why rejoice because your sins are 
forgiven V ' Why, if I am faithful, if I persevere to the end, 
I shall be saved.' ' Very true — unless you persevere, you 
cannot be saved. But what reason have you to conclude that 
you shall persevere ? What makes you so confident that you 
shall be saved ? Show us the ground of your confidence. 
Do you trust in your own resolutions V ' No.' ' Well, what 
then ? Do you trust in the stability of your own will ? Do 
you feel superior to the power of temptation ? Do you think 
you are a person of such decision, such stability and firmness, 
that when you undertake the work, you shall certainly go 
through with it ? Is this the reason you have to think that 
you shall persevere and be saved V ' No.' ' Well, what then ? 
What reason have you to think you should be faithful — that 
you shall persevere and be saved ? If God is not first faithful 



DR. NETTLETON. 285 

to you, you will not be faithful to him.' And, ray Ijearers, he 
could see no reason why he should rejoice. He could find 
no rest for the sole of his foot, until he was driven back on 
the ground of our text. Being confident of this very thing, 
that he lohich hath begun a good work in you, will perform it 
until the day of Jesus Christ. And, my hearers, what evidence 
have you that you shall persevere ? Do you trust in your- 
selves ? You lean on a broken reed. You build on the sand. 
There is depravity enough in your hearts to sink you to hell, 
if left to yourselves. If you have never seen and felt this 
awful truth, you have never yet seen your own hearts, nor 
been thoroughly awakened. If you have not felt this awful 
truth, you have not yet been driven out of yourselves — not 
yet left the strong hold of self-righteous deception — not yet 
fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before you^ 

xA.lthough Dr. Nettleton dwelt much, in his preaching, on 
the doctrines of grace, and exhibited with great plainness the 
lost condition of the sinner, and his entire dependence on the 
sovereign mercy of God ; yet no man ever held up more fully 
and more clearly the obligations of men ; or pressed more 
forcibly on the consciences of sinners the duty of immediate 
repentance. It was a prominent object with him to show that 
sinners labor under no inability to obey the divine commands 
which furnishes them with the least excuse. Hence he felt 
no embarrassment in urging upon them by every solemn and 
affecting consideration, an immediate compliance with the 
terms of the gospel. 

The following is from a sermon on 2 Cor. vi. 20. " Do 
you ask what God requires of you? The answer is plain. 
' Be ye reconciled to God."* This is what God claims. And 
from this Ave cannot depart, without entering on forbidden 
ground. He claims the heart. And from this we cannot 
depart without disloyalty to God. Individuals may negotiate 
a treaty of peace, though the heart be not engaged. An out- 
ward reconciliation may be effected, while the heart remains 



286 MEMOIR OF 

the same. But not so with God. He looketh on the heart. 
If that be withheld, to what purpose is the multitude of your 
sacrifices unto me, saith the Lord ? If the heart be not 
engaged, however sinners may treat about a reconcihation, 
their insolence is met with the repulsive demand — who hath 
required this at your hand ? Without this not a step can be 
taken towards settling your peace with God. 

" And now all things are ready ; and God is inviting and 
beseeching you to accept his message. What is the reply of 
your heart ? Do you not like the terms of this treaty ? You 
are required only to be reconciled to God. What can be more 
reasonable than this ? Is it hard that you should be required 
to love God ? to feel sorrow for sin ? to confess and forsake 
it 1 Is this hard ? Or is sin so lovely and so desirable that 
it appears hard and unreasonable that you should be required 
to hate and oppose it with all your heart 1 Why then, will 
3^ou not renounce it 1 Is sin so noble a thing in itself, and so 
desirable in its consequences, that you cannot part with it— 
that you will lay down your life — your eternal life — for its 
sake ? Your love of sin is all the excuse you have, or can 
have. Or will you plead your inability ? What ? cannot be 
reconciled to God ! Cannot feel sorrow for sin ? Cannot 
cease to rebel against the King of heaven ! What an ac- 
knowledgment is this ! Out of thine own mouth, wilt thou 
be condemned. If indeed, you are so opposed to God, that 
you cannot feel sorrow for sin, this is the very reason why 
you ought to be condemned. The harder it is for you to 
repent and love God, the more wicked you are, and the 
greater will be your condemnation. 

" God himself is beseeching you to be reconciled. And 
why do you not obey ? Has your pride and stubbornness 
arisen to such a pitch that you will not do the most reasona- 
ble things, though God beseech you ?" * * * 

" In his name I plead. You may now disregard the voice 
of a dying fellow mortal. Let him be forgotten. But will 



DR. NETTLETON. 287 

you not hear the voice of God ? Hear, O heavens, and give 
ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken ! His commanding 
voice to every sinner present, is, ' Be ye reconciled to God.'' 
Have you not continued long enough in your rebellion ? 
Have you not long enough resisted his call? And will you 
now again turn away from him that speaketh from heaven 1 
Will you not hearken to the voice of the heavenly charmer-r— 
your bleeding Saviour ? Have you no repentance — not a 
tear to shed for the sins which nailed him to the cross. 
********* 

" Sinners, must I leave you where I found you, unrecon- 
ciled to God ? Your business is not v/ith a fellow mortal. I 
have done ; and the whole remains to be settled between God 
and your own souls. However hard you may think this mes- 
sage, it is not mine. God beseeches— God commands yom* 
compliance now. And will you raise your feeble arm to 
oppose ? God is on the throne ; and have you an arm like 
God ? However opposed you may be, yet God is on the 
throne, and what can you do 1 God is on the throne, and 
will dash his enemies in pieces like a potter's vessel. 

" Before I close, I must remind you that with some of you, 
this may be the last call — the last offer of peace which God 
will ever send you. But a different message will soon arrive. 
You will shortly hear again from your offended Sovereign. 
Before the setting of the sun, the messenger of death maybe 
despatched with a commission to drag some guilty soul to his 
dread tribunal. He may now be even at the door. 

" By the mercies of God, and by the terrors of his wrath — 
by the joys of heaven, and by the pains of hell — by the merits 
of a Saviour's blood, and by the worth of your immortal souls, 
I beseech you, lay down the arms of your rebellion ; bov/, 
and submit to your rightful Sovereign. Oppose, and still he 
will reign. For God hath set his king upon his holy hill of 
Zion, and hath sworn by himself that unto him every knee 
shall bow. 



288 MEMOIR OF 

" Once he has descended with a message of peace and 
good will to men. But shortly he will be ' revealed from 
heaven with his mighty angels^ injlamingjire, taking vengeance 
on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our 
Lord Jesus Christ; who shall he punished with everlasting 
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory 
of his power.'' " 

In addition to the foregoing, some extracts of letters to his 
friends, illustrating his doctrinal views, will now be intro- 
duced. 

The following is from a letter addressed to the Rev. Dr. 
Woods, of Andover, dated May 6, 1829. 

^' You have doubtless read Erskine on the ' Unconditional 
freeness of the gospel.' The writer doubtless wishes to pro- 
mote the cause of religion. But the tendency of the work, I 
do think, is directly to defeat that object. 

" In the early part of my ministry, the sentiments of Her- 
vey and Marshall I found, in many places, meeting and 
checking the progress of conviction in some sinners, and giv- 
ing false peace to others. I have found some studying Mar- 
shall's ' Gospel Mystery of Sanctification,' and trying to 
believe it ; but conscience, awakened by the Spirit of God, 
would not suffer them to rest in a belief that their sins were 
pardoned while they had no evidence of a change of heart. 
I was invited to a house to converse with an interesting young 
lady who had been long anxious for her soul. Many efforts 
had been made to give her consolation ; but in vain. ' What 
do you think of this book V said she. ' It is Marshall on 

Sanctification, and was recommended to me by , and if I 

dared believe it I should think I was a christian.' ' I am glad 
you dare not believe it. There is some part of it, at least, 
which you ought not to believe,' was my answer. I per- 
ceived that her conscience was more orthodox than the 
author. She gave it up. Her convictions increased and soon 



BR. N E T T L E T O N . 289 

terminated in hopeful conversion. The faith which Marshall 
required, did not commend itself to her conscience. Believ- 
ing that her sins were pardoned, against the dictates of con- 
science and the Bible, seemed to her like believing a lie, to 
make it true. How to reconcile this, I suppose Marshall 
found to be a ' mystery.' Hence the title of his book. 
Hence, too, the more the conscience is awakened to perform 
its office, the more difficult divines of this description find it 
to deal with sinners. The great object, they think, is to give 
sinners peace. And all their effiarts are directed to this sin- 
gle object. When the sinner begins to see his character and 
condition in some measure as it really is : — when the word 
of God begins to take effisct, and conscience to perform its 
office, every effort is made to counteract the very means 
which the Spirit of God employs to bring the sinner to a 
reconciliation. Erskine agrees substantially with Marshall in 
his views of faith. It consists in believing that our sins are 
pardoned. He has built his system upon Hervey and Mar- 
shall, with this wonderftd improvement, that we are not re- 
quired to believe a lie to make it true ; for the sins of all man- 
kind are pardoned, whether they believe it or not. Pardon is 
universal and unconditional. The atonement is itself the par- 
don, and is unaffected by man's belief or unbelief. While in 
all their rebellion and infidelity, it is lavished upon the 7nassof 
the guilty without discrimination. The use of faith is not to 
remove the penalty, or to make the pardon better ; for the pen- 
alty is removed, and the pardon is proclaimed, whether ive believe 
it or not ; but to give the pardon a moral influence, by which it 
may heal the spirituul disease of the soul. Mankind are sanc- 
tified by their belief of the pardon. 

" I cannot but notice how one error grows out of another. 
The definition of Atonement is ' the actual removal of 
siiw' If so, then it must include pardon irrespective of char- 
acter, antecedent to faith, or repentance, or conversion, and of 
course, limited to the elect. And faith consists in believing 
25 



290 MEMOIR OF 

that our sins are pardoned, and that we are of the elect. But 
to avoid this difficulty, limited atonement becomes unlimited ; 
and so the atonement is made for all mankind. Therefore, 
pardon is lanished upon all mankind. This is the most plau- 
sible scheme of universalism that I have ever seen. If man- 
kind can only be made to believe that their sins are pardoned, 
this will make them love God — restore the key-stone of the 
arch — sanctify them — give peace of conscience and justify them. 
Now all this being taken for granted, without one text to 
prove it, and with the whole Bible against him, (' He that 
believeth not is condemned already, and the wrath of God 
abideth on him,' &c.) he adopts every method m his power, to 
make all his readers believe that their sins are pardoned. To 
doubt this, must be a great crime. Unbelief is the greatest 
sin, and the more conscience awakes to perform its office of 
conviction, the more guilty and criminal is the sinner for 
listening to its admonitions. When the Spirit of God is con- 
vincing of sin, and the commandment comes and sin revives ; 
and when the sinner sees and feels that he is lost and needs 
pardon — -he tries to take it off by convincing him that it 
is all false alarm. If he does not believe that his sins are 
pardoned before he has one thought of repentance, or of ask- 
ing it, the poor man makes God a liar. * He that believeth 
not,' i. e. that his sins are pardoned, ' hath made him a liar.' 

" The evil produced by such a book, from the pen of one 
who has already acquired a reputation as a writer, and a 
christian, cannot be calculated in this world. Here are false 
views of faith, of the atonement, of pardon, and of justifica- 
tion, w^hich he makes to consist in a sense of pardon. There 
is no such thing as evidence of a change of heart. But 
believing that our sins are pardoned, will produce that 
change — make us love God, and thus give peace and confidence, 
and restore the key -stone of the arch, 

" I cannot but express my full conviction that the senti- 
ments contained in that book, are more directly calculated to 



DR. NETTLETON. 291 

prevent conviction of sin, and to put a stop to genuine 
revivals of religion, than any thing which has ever been 
published." 

The following is also from a letter addressed to Dr. Woods, 
and dated June 18th, 1834. Speaking of a certain class of 
divines, he says : " They admit that there is a tendency, or 
propensity to sin, in the very constitution of the human mind ;" 
but they deny that this tendency is sinful. They also admit 
that '* every effect must have a cause, and that this cause must 
be prior to the effect." 

" Now I observe that the objections which they alledge 
against the views of their opponents, lie equally against their 
own. It will be no easier for the sinner to repent and believe 
against this propensity to sin. than it was while it was called 
a ' sinful propensity.' Changing the name of a lion into 
that of a lamb, will not alter its nature. This propensity to 
sin, they admit, does all the mischief ; and will it do any the 
less, in consequence of being called an ' innocent or harmless 
propensity.' Or will the sinner be any more likely to be on 
his guard, and to watch and fight against it ? Directly the 
reverse. But why object to calling an ' infallible tendency or 
propensity to sin, a sinful propensity.' ' Then,' say they, 
' regeneration must consist in removing it.' But suppose you 
give it any other name, e. g. evil, bad, vile, vicious, pernicious, 
or dangerous, then, also, regeneration must consist in remov- 
ing it. Go one step farther, and call it calamitous, we should 
still think that regeneration consisted in removing this calami- 
tous propensity to sin. Venture one step further, and allay 
the fears of sinners entirely. Call it an innocent propensity, 
and then it need not be removed by regeneration. And yet 
one would be at a loss to see how their scheme can be made 
consistent with itself. One would think that an infallible 
tendency to sin would need to be removed in regeneration, or 
that regeneration could never take place. If ' every effect 
must have a cause, and this cause must be prior to the efFect,' 



292 MEMOIR OF 

then no sinner ever did, or ever will put forth a holy choice 
until this infallible tendency to sin be removed, and succeeded 
by an infallible tendency to holiness ; unless an infallible ten- 
dency to sin can be the cause of a holy choice. This latter 
opinion they seem to have adopted. They discard the prin- 
ciple that ' like produces like,' and assume another, viz. that 
a ' fountain can,' and actually doth, ' send forth at the same 
place, sweet water and bitter.' ' Men do gather grapes of 
thorns and figs of thistles.' We have heard the new philos- 
ophy, that all trees are by nature alike, neither good nor bad, 
until they bear fruit. And then, the fruit is not good, but the 
tree is good ovlIj because the fruit is good, and vice versa. 
' Make the tree good and the fruit will be good,' said our 
Saviour, ' for the tree is known by the fruit.' Make the fruit 
good, and the fruit will be good, says the new philosophy ; for 
the fruit is known by the fruit. Nothing is good or bad but 
fruit. There can be nothing in the tree itself back of the 
fruit but what is common to all trees — ' pura naturalia.' 

" But how do they dispose of this ' propensity to sin, in 
pressing the obligations of sinners ? 

1. '' They give this propensity a soft name — deny its sinful- 
ness altogether, and do not even call it bad, or dangerous. 

2. " They put into the mouth of the sinner an excuse for 
retaining his propensity to sin in all its strength. 

3. " They call upon him to exercise no other re'pentance or 
faith than that which is consistent with the existence of this 
infallible tendency or propensity to sin in all its strength. 

4. " They adojDt, for his accommodation, a new theory of 
regeneration. ' It has been said by some, that regeneration 
consists in removing this sinful bias which is anterior to actual 
volition.' This they deny. But whether we call this propen- 
sity sinful, or not, all orthodox divines, who have admitted its 
existence, have, I believe, united in the opinion that regenera- 
tion does consist in removing it. This, certainly, was the 
opinion of Edwards ; and it constituted the principal differ- 



DR. NETTLETON. 293 

ence between him and Dr. John Taylor. It was, also, the 
very quintessence of his treatise on Religious Affections. 
Until this tendency to sin be removed, it is absolutely certain 
that true repentance never can begin. It is turning from the 
love, to the loathing of sin. ' The heart,' says Edwards, ' can 
have no tendency to make itself better, until it first has a bet- 
ter tendency .^ No sinner ever did, or ever will make a holy 
choice prior to an inclination, bias, or tendency to holiness. 
On the whole, their views of depravity, of regeneration, and of 
the mode of preaching to sinners, I think cannot fail of doing 
very great mischief. This exhibition overlooks the most 
alarming features of human depravity, and the very essence 
of experimental religion. It is directly calculated to prevent 
sinners from coming under conviction of sin, and to make 
them think well of themselves while in an unregenerate state. 
It flatters others with the delusion that they may give, or have 
given, their hearts to God, while their propensity to sin 
remains in all its strength. Entertaining this delusion, they 
cannot be converted. Every sinner under deep conviction of 
sin, knows this statement to be false, so far as his own expe- 
rience is concerned. The progress of conviction is ordinarily 
as follows : — Trouble and alarm. 1. On account of outward 
sins. 2. On account of sinful thoughts. 3. On account of 
hardness of heart, deadness and insensibility to divine things ; 
tendency, bias, proneness, or propensity to sin, both inferred 
and felt. And this the convicted sinner always regards not 
merely as calamitous, but as awfully criminal in the sight of 
God. And the sinner utterly despairs of salvation without a 
change in this propensity to sin. And while he feels this 
propensity to be thus criminal, he is fully aware that if God by 
a sovereign act of his grace, does not interpose to remove or 
change it, he shall never give his heart to God, nor make 
one holy choice. If the sinner has not felt this, he has 
not yet been under conviction of sin, or felt his need of 
regeneration. 

25* 



294 MEMOIR OF 

" Those who adopt the views I am considering, exhort the 
sinner to do that only which leaves his propensity to sin in 
all its strength. Hence conversions are made as easy as you 
can turn yonr hand. It is only to resolve and the work is 
done. They do in effect tell their hearers, and their readers, 
what the most godly christians certainly find it the most diffi- 
cult to believe, that their propensity to sin, however strong it 
may be, is not criminal, but only calamitous — that they need 
not be alarmed at this awful propensity to sin — that they need 
not, for God does not, regard it with displeasure — that they 
can neither change it themselves, nor are required to do it — 
and that they need not ask or even expect God to do it for 
them. Such a sentiment, however abhorrent to the ear and 
to the heart of piety, is, nevertheless, perfectly congenial with 
the feelings of all the most hardened in sin ; and unless their 
consciences are more orthodox than such preaching, they will 
never be converted. Every step in the progress of conviction 
and conversion is in direct opposition to these sentiments. I 
know that converts may be made by hundreds and by thou- 
sands on these principles, with perfect ease ; for so it has 
been in former times among the Christ-ians and others in 
New England, as I have had full opportunity to know. But 
piety never did, and never will descend far in the line of such 
sentiments. Were I to preach in this manner, I do solemnly 
believe that I should be the means of healing the heart of 
awakened sinners slightly, of crying peace, peace, when there 
is no peace, and of throwing the whole weight of my minis- 
terial influence on the side of human rebellion against God, " 

The following extracts are taken from letters written at 
different times, and to different individuals. 

Speaking of the character of infants, he says, " For one I 
do solemnly believe that God views and treats them in all 
respects, just as he would do if they were sinners. To say 
that animals die, and therefore that death can be no proof of 



DE,. NETTLETON. 295 

sin in infants, is to take infidel ground. The infidel has just 
as good a right to say, because animals die without being sin- 
ners, therefore adults may. If death may reign to such an 
alarming extent over the human race, and be no proof of sin ; 
then it may reign to any extent in the universe and be no proof 
of sin. Consequently what Paul says, ' Death by sin, and so 
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned,' cannot 
be true." 

In another letter, speaking of the consequences of denying 
the depravity of infants, he says, " It is to deny that they need 
redemption by Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, 
or if they do need redemption, it must be redemption from 
something which is not sin in any sense ; and if they need 
regeneration, it must be a change of something which is not 
sinful in any sense. If the soul be innocent, it can be re- 
deemed from nothing, and can never join the song of the 
redeemed, ' unto him that loved us and washed us from our 
sins in his own blood.' If the soul be innocent, it can be 
regenerated, only for the worse." 

Speaking of the theory which accounts for the fact that sin- 
ners do not love God, by supposing that his character is not 
clearly seen — that divine things are too remote and unreal to 
call forth the affections of their hearts, he says, " when brought 
near and real, they will draw forth the opposition of the heart. 
You may destroy the sinner's earthly plans, break up all his 
interest in the concerns of time — fill bis mind with all the 
solemn realities of death, judgment and eternity — bring him 
under the most powerful convictions of sin ; and the selfish 
principle maybe more active this very moment than ever, in 
building up a righteousness, or in quarreling with God about 
the terms of salvation. It is sometimes taken for granted that 
if the sinner had clear views of the character of God, he 
would love him. But facts prove the contrary. Sinners in 
the last stages of conviction, who have lost all interest in the 
concerns of time — sinners too on a dying bed, who care 



296 MEMOIR OP 

nothing for the world, feel more opposition than ever. At this 
very crisis, when time with all its concerns has dwindled 
into nothing, the sinner for the first time, discovers the appal- 
ling truth, that the carnal mind is enmity against God. The 
selfish principle, the carnal mind, with all its enmity against 
God, remains in full strength, until slain, or taken away by 
the act of the Holy Spirit. ' Even when we were dead, hath 
quickened us together with Christ.' " 

In another letter, speaking-^of the theory that " God prefers, 
all things considered, holiness to sin in all instances in which 
the latter takes place," he says, " If this he so, the question 
arises, why does not God place holiness in the lieu of sin in 
a given case ? The answer is, ' God cannot sustain the great- 
est amount of holiness in the universe, without that influence 
which results from the existence of sin and its punishment.' 
He needs therefore the influence which will result from the 
punishment of this sin. This is God's reason for not placing 
holiness in the lieu of this sin, though he desires it, in itself 
considered, and all things considered. He cannot do it with- 
out putting it out of his power to sustain the greatest amount 
of holiness. And yet he sincerely desires that the sinner 
would do it without divine influence. Now suppose the sin- 
ner should do it. According to this theory, he would put it 
out of God's power to sustain the greatest amount of holiness. 
Consequently, if the theory be true, God sincerely desires that 
sinners would put it out of his power to sustain the greatest 
amount of holiness. 

" It is supposed that if this theory is not true, sin must be 
excellent in itself. Is there no other alternative? If God 
brings light out of darkness, order out of confusion, and good 
out of evil, are darkness, confusion and evil, good in them- 
selves ? May they not, by contrast, show light, order and 
good, to better advantage ? So ' our unrighteousness may com- 
mend the righteousness of God.'' " 

The foregoing extracts, which might be greatly extended, 



DR. NETTLE TON, 297 

will serve to give the reader some idea of Dr. Nettleton's 
theological vievv^s. 

It is well known that within the last quarter of a century, 
there has been considerable controversy in New England 
respecting the best mode of stating and defending the doc- 
trines of Calvinism. On the one hand, it has been maintained 
that these doctrines, in the sense in which they have been 
commonly received, are inconsistent with sound philosophy, 
and that they ought to give place to more rational views. On 
the other hand, it has been maintained, that the explanations 
proposed, in some instances at least, amount to a virtual 
denial of the doctrines themselves, and to the adoption of dan- 
gerous errors. 

The points of controversy relate principally to the decrees 
and government of God — the moral agency of man — the 
nature of holiness — and the doctrines of native depravity, 
regeneration and election. 

The reader, who wishes to make himself acquainted with 
the manner in which these points have been discussed, is 
referred to the periodicals and pamphlets which contain the 
discussion, and which have been extensively circulated in the 
christian community. 

In this controversy Dr. Nettleton took no public part. But 
he did not regard it with indifference. On the contrary he 
watched its progress with the deepest interest, and with an 
eye fixed on its bearings upon christian experience, and revi- 
vals of religion. 

It is evident from the foregoing extracts from his sermons 
and letters, that his views of the Calvinistic doctrines were 
such as were maintained by the orthodox ministers of New 
England, at the beginning of the present century. The new 
views, therefore, which were put forth as improvements, he 
did not receive. They did not appear to him to be improve- 
ments. On the contrary, he believed them to be erroneous, 
and of dangerous tendency. From the first promulgation of 



298 MEMOIR OF 

them, he was grieved and alarmed ; and his sorrow was ren- 
dered the more intense by the fact, that some of the advocates 
of these views, were brethren with whom he had labored in 
revivals, and been on terms of the most endearing intimacy. 
The pain of Whitefield was not greater, when his friend and 
brother, John Wesley, avowed his hostility to Calvinism, than 
was that of Dr. Nettleton when these brethren whom he ten- 
derly loved, began to maintain and propagate opinions which 
seemed to him to be unscriptural, and to be adapted to injure 
the cause of revivals. 

His strength had been spent in revivals ; and it had been 
his constant aim to elevate their character by sedulously 
guarding against every thing which was suited to mar their 
purity, or weaken their power over the consciences of men. 
And it was his settled conviction, that the purity of revivals 
depends greatly on the faithfulness with which the doctrines 
of the cross are preached. He had observed that when the 
standard of orthodoxy is lowered, the danger of delusion is 
increased, and the character of revivals is injured. He was 
" well aware that popular excitements, without doctrinal 
instruction," (or with false doctrinal instruction,) " may be 
called revivals ; and that zeal without knowledge may glory 
in the multiplication of its converts. But such excitements 
are no blessing to the church." 

It v/as the full conviction of Dr. Nettleton that all genuine 
religious experience is based on correct views of the doctrines 
of grace, and consequently, that the religious experience of 
those whose views of these doctrines are defective, or essen- 
tially erroneous, will be in like degree defective or spurious. 
He felt, as v/e have seen, the great importance of exhibiting 
clearly the doctrines of the cross in revivals of religion ; and 
hence he regarded those theological speculations which 
seemed to him to obscure, or utterly to subvert these doctrines, 
as directly tending to corrupt revivals, and in this way, to 
destroy the souls of men. The opinions above referred to, 



DR. NETTLETON. 299 

seemed to him to have, some of them in a greater, and some 
in a less degree, this dangerous tendency. 

Whether his apprehensions were well founded, is a ques- 
tion which will be differently decided by different individuals, 
according to the views which they entertain of the contro- 
verted points. The controversy is to be settled by an appeal, 
not to the opinions of fallible men, but to the decisions of the 
word of God. The views of Dr. Nettleton are introduced, 
not for the purpose of proving that those with whom he sym- 
pathized in this controversy were right ; but simply for the 
purpose of giving a correct history of his life. That he felt 
deeply in relation to this controversy, and that he considered 
some of the views which were maintained and defended, to 
be errors, dangerous to the souls of men, is well known by all 
who had any intercourse with him. Such being his convic- 
tions, he could not hold his peace. It was, indeed, painful 
to him to disagree with his brethren ; but he felt himself laid 
under solemn obligations to maintain what he believed to be 
the truth, and to bear testimony against what seemed to him 
to be dangerous error, whatever sacrifice it might cost him. 
Accordingly he said to one of his brethren, '' such is my con- 
viction of the tendency of these views to corrupt revivals, and 
produce spurious conversions, that if all New England should 
go over, I should prefer to stand alone." 

But while he was thus decided in the maintenance of his 
own religious opinions, he entertained the kindest feelings 
towards those of his brethren from whom he felt compelled 
to differ. He was, as has been already remarked, grieved 
that their influence should be exerted to prom.ote, what he 
considered the cause of error ; and he felt it to be his duty to 
expostulate with them. With some of them he maintained 
repeated and long discussions. But he never engaged in 
bitter and angry controversy. He always treated his brethren 
with khidness. He never impeached their motives, nor 
depreciated their talents, nor aspersed their characters by 



300 MEMOIR or 

loading them with reproachful epithets. And his brethren, I 
trust, never doubted the sincerity of his heart, however much 
they may have been grieved by the alarm which he felt, and 
expressed, at their supposed errors. 

One of these brethren made him a visit, at a period during 
his last sickness, when in his own view, and that of his 
friends, he was near the close of life. The interview was 
tender and affectionate. It revived the recollection of many 
past scenes of thrilling interest. Nothing was said in regard 
to theological differences. Two days after this interview, Dr. 
Nettleton wrote to this brother the following letter. 

" My Dear Brother : 

" I thank you for your visit, and the sympathy which you 
manifested in my affliction. The sight of your face revived 
many tender recollections. There were many things which 
I wished to say to you, but my strength would not permit. 
How long I am to linger on these mortal shores, I know not. 
But as you are aware, I consider myself near to the eternal 
world ; and I wish to say, that my views of the great doctrines 
which I preached twenty-five years ago, have not altered. 
They appear to me more precious than ever. I wish also to 
say, that 1 have the same views of some of your published 
writings, which I have often expressed to you in years past. 
I need not tell you that I love you. You know^ that I have 
ever loved you. You know also that 1 have been grieved and 
distressed that you should have adopted and publicly main- 
tained sentiments which I cannot but regard as eminently dan- 
gerous to the souls of men. I impeach not your motives. I 
judge not your heart. I would cherish the hope that your 
own religious experience is at variance with some things 
which you have published ; particularly on the subject of self- 
love, and the great doctrine of regeneration. It does seem 
to me, 1 experienced all which you make essential to regene- 
ration, while, as I now fully believe, my heart was unrecon- 



DR. NETTLETON, 301 

ciled to God. And this is the reason which leads me to fear 
that what you have written, will be the means of deceiving 
and destroying souls. I say this with the kindest feelings, 
and with eternity in view. Receive it as my dying testimony, 
and as an expression of my sincere love. Farewell, my 
brother. We shall soon meet at the judgment seat of Christ, 
God grant that we may meet in heaven. 

" Your affectionate friend and brother, 

" ASAHEL NeTTLETON." 

East-Windsor, Jan. 19, 1843. 

This letter is inserted here, not to prove that Dr. Nettleton 
was right in his theological views, and his brethren wrong ; 
but to correct two false impressions which have been made, 
to some extent, on the public mind. One is, that Dr. Nettle- 
ton felt a bitter hostility towards those brethren from whom 
he differed. The other is, that in the near prospect of death, 
his views underwent an important change in respect to the 
tendency of those speculations which had caused him so 
much solicitude. Neither of these impressions is correct, as 
this letter fully evinces. He never entertained unkind feel- 
ings towards his brethren ; and his views of christian doctrine 
remained unaltered to the last. The great truths which he 
maintained through life, were his stay and solace amid the 
pangs of dissolving nature, and in the near prospect of an 
eternal retribution. He doubtless now knows what is truth 
on those points, respecting which he and his brethren differed. 
They also will soon know. They and he will soon meet at 
the judgment seat of Christ ; and let every reader unite in 
the prayer that they may meet in heaven. 



26 



CHAPTER XIV 



His last Sickness and Death. 



The sickness of Dr. Nettleton in 1822, gave a shock to his 
constitution from which it never recovered. For a consid- 
erable part of the time during the remainder of his life, he 
was exceedingly feeble ; and at no time was he able to engage 
in arduous labor. Still he was not entirely laid aside. He 
preached, as we have seen, in many places, and in some with 
great success. Finding the climate of New England too 
severe for his enfeebled constitution during the winter months, 
he usually, for a number of years, spent them at the South ; 
and by great care in avoiding excitement and excessive 
fatigue, he was able to enjoy a comfortable degree of health, 
for most of the time, until the summer of 1841, when he began 
to be afflicted with urinary calculi, which soon confined him 
to the house, and subjected him to great bodily suffering. 
Finding no relief from medical prescriptions, and being redu- 
ced to that state in which it was evident he could live but a 
short time, on the 14th of February, 1 843, he submitted to the 
operation of lithotomy, by which he obtained partial relief, 
and hopes were entertained, for a season, of his entire recov- 
ery. But after a few months, it became manifest, that the dis- 
ease was returning upon him. His sufferings again became 
exceedingly great, till on the 8th of December, 1843, he sub- 
mitted to a second operation. For some time, he appeared to 
be doing well, and hopes were again entertained of his recov- 



DR. NETTLETON. 303 

ery. But these hopes were not realized. He continued in 
a feeble state until the 16th of May, 1844, when the powers 
of nature failed, and he resigned his spirit into the hand of 
God who gave it. 

During his protracted and severe sufferings, his piety was 
subjected to a new test. We have seen its efficacy in prompt- 
ing him, while in health, to the most arduous and unremitted 
labors in the cause of Christ ; and it was no less efficacious 
in sustaining him in the day of trial. For many months 
together, his bodily pain was almost without intermission, and 
exceedingly great — at times, indeed, excruciating. But he 
was strengthened to endure it with patience and resignation. 
During the whole of his sickness, he was never heard to 
utter a murmuring word. He was often heard to say, " My 
sufferings are great, but they are nothing in comparison with 
what 1 deserve." A large part of the time during his sick- 
ness, his mind was vigorous and active. He read many 
books during this period, particularly D'Aubigne's History of 
the Reformation, with which he was much delighted, Gaus- 
sen on Inspiration, Tracy's History of the Great Awakening, 
the entire works of the younger Edwards, much of the works 
of Emmons, a large part of the works of Andrew Fuller, be- 
sides many smaller works. What he read, he read with great 
attention, and he would often make criticisms and comments 
on the things which he had read. But the Bible was the man 
of his counsel. He would often say, "there are many good 
books, but after all, there is nothing like the Bible." And it 
never was so precious to him as at this period. Although he 
had made it his study for more than forty years, and had 
acquired a knowledge of it to which few attain, yet he found 
it an inexhaustible fund of rich instruction. He could adopt 
the language of the Psalmist, " Hovj sweet are thy words unto 
my taste ; yea^ sweeter than honey to my mouth. Thy tes- 
timonies have I taken as a heritage forever ; for they are the 



304 MEMOIR OF 

rejoicing of my heart. Thy Statutes have been my songs in 



ag-e: 



* * # 



the house of my 'pilgrim, 

He QOt only read some portion of the scriptures every day, 
but he devoted much time, to a close and critical study of them. 
He usually kept his Greek Testament, and his Greek Con- 
cordance by him, and diligently compared different parts of 
scripture with each other in the original language, that he 
might be sure to get the precise meaning. 1 found him one 
morning with the Greek Testament in his hand. He said, 
" you will perhaps wonder that I should be reading this. You 
may suppose that a person in my situation, would prefer to 
read the translation. But I seem to get nearer to the fountain 
when I read the original. It is like drinking water at the 
spring, rather than from a vessel in which it has been carried 
away. By reading the Greek, I get shades of meaning, which 
cannot be expressed in any translation." It was common for 
him to entertain his friends with comments and remarks on 
portions of scripture ; and these comments were exceedingly 
interesting and instructive. Many an individual has gone 
away from his bed side, with a more lively sense of the worth 
of the Bible, than he ever felt before. 

He was not in the habit, during his sickness, of speaking 
very often of his own religious feelings ; but it was manifest 
from the whole strain of his conversation, and particularly 
from the lively interest which he took in the truths of the 
Bible, that he generally enjoyed great peace of mind. 

On one occasion, having expressed to me his apprehension 
that his disease was incurable, I inquired of him the state of 
his mind. He expressed entire submission to the will of 
God — a willingness to be in his hands, and to be disposed of 
according to his pleasure. He spoke of the great deceitful- 
ness of the human heart, and the danger of self-deception ; but 
intimated that he had no distressing doubts and fears. He 
manifested an ardent attachment to the doctrines which he 
had preached, and seemed to derive from them great support 



DR. NETTLETON. 305 

in the near prospect of eternity ; and he expressed a peculiar 
love for those of his brethren, who had been decided in their 
adherence to the truth, and in their opposition to prevailing 
errors. 

On another occasion, he conversed very freely concerning 
his own spiritual state. He gave me a more particular ac- 
count of his conversion than he had ever done before.* It 
brought to his recollection so many tender scenes, that he was 
greatly affected and wept abundantly. He spake of the doc- 
trines of grace, and said with great emotion, " I do not need 
any body to tell me that they are true. I am fully convinced 
of their truth, by my own experience." 

One morning, as I entered the room, he said to me, that 
these words had been running in his mind : 

'■ Death will invade us by the means appointed, 
Nor am I anxious, if I am prepared, 
What shape he comes in. 

In the course of the conversation, he said, "more of my life 
is written in Bunyan's Grace abounding to the chief of sin- 
ners, than any where else." He was a great admirer of the 
writings of Bunyan, and often referred to them in illustration 
of his own opinions. 

On being asked whether he still entertained the same views 
of the errors, on account of which he had manifested so much 
solicitude — he spake with great emotion, saying, " It is the 
bearing which these errors have upon the eternal interests of 
men, which gives them all their importance in my estimation. 
It is in view of death, judgment, and eternity, that I have 
looked at them. If I had not regarded them as dangerous to 
the souls of men, I should have felt no solicitude respecting 
them." 

At another time, he wished me to read to him the following 
hymn, in Wardlaw's collection. 

The same that is inserted in Chapter I. 

26* 



306 MEMOIR OF 

*' 1. Come let us join our friends above, 
That have obtained the prize , 
And on the eagle wings of love, 
To joy celestial rise. 

2. Let saints below in concert sing. 
With those to glory gone ; 

For all the servants of our king, 
In heaven and earth are one. 

3. One family, we dwell in him. 

One church, above, beneath. 
Though now divided by the stream, 
The narrow stream of death. 

4. One army of the living God, 
To his command we bow. 

Part of the host have crossed the flood, 
And part are crossing now. 

5. Each moment, to their endless home. 
Some parting spirits fly ; 

And we are to the margin come. 
And soon expect to die. 

6. Dear Saviour, be our constant guide, 
Then, when the word is given, 

Bid death's cold stream and flood divide, 
And land us safe in heaven." 

He alluded to this hymn, several times, with great interest, 
during his sickness. 

On one occasion he spoke with great feeling of those who 
were hopefully converted in the revivals under his preaching, 
and said, the thought of meeting them in the future world, was 
often exceedingly interesting. " But," said he, " I have never 
allowed myself to be A^ery confident of arriving at heaven, lest 
the disappointment should be the greater. I know that the 
heart is exceedingly deceitful, and that many will be deceived. 
And why am not I as liable to be deceived as others ?" He 
spoke of the opinion maintained by some, that none are ever 
actuated by any other principle than self-love, and said, " I 



DR. NETTLETON. 307 

should have no hope of being saved, if I believed myself never 
to have been actuated by a higher principle," 

He one day referred to the words of the apostle, " Despise 
not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebu- 
ked of him." He observed that there are two ways in which 
divine chastisements are improperly received. One is, despi- 
sing them, that is, maldng light of them — disregarding them, 
as a stubborn, disobedient child sometimes sets at defiance 
and treats with contempt the chastisement of his father. The 
other is, fainting under them, that is, making too much of 
them, feeling as though they were too heavy to be borne, and 
greater than we deserve. " We ought," said he, " to feel that 
all our sufferings, however great, are light afflictions^ infinitely 
less than we deserve." 

When asked at one time, if he did not sometimes get weary 
of life, he said, " It is wearisome. But I have sometimes 
heard persons express a desire to die, when it was painful to 
me. I desire to have no will on the subject." He felt that 
it was as much our duty to be willing to live and suffer, if 
such be the will of God, as to be willing to die. Asking for 
the hymn-book, he read the following stanza : 

" Be this my one great business here, 
With holy trembling, holy fear, 

To make my calling sure ; 
Thine utmost counsel to fulfill, 
And suffer all thy righteous will, 

And to the end endure." 

It was very common for him, when inquired of respecting 
the state of his mind, instead of giving a direct answer, to point 
to some hymn, or some passage of scripture as indicative of 
his feelings. 

On one occasion, finding him in very great pain, I said to 
him, " I hope the Lord will give you patience." He replied, 
"I have need of patience." I remarked that when suffering 
severe pain, it was profitable to think of the sufferings of 



303 MEMOIR OF 

Christ. He said that the words of the 228th Village Hymn 
had been running in his mind all night. 

I. "Begone unbelief ! 

My Saviour is near, 
And for my relief 

Will surely appear. 
By prayer let me wrestle, 

And he will perform, 
With Christ in the vessel, 

I smile at the storm. 

2. Determined to save, 

He watched o'er my path. 
When, Satan's blind slave, 

I sported with death : 
And can he have taught me 

To trust in his name. 
And thus far have brought me^ 

To put me to shame ? 

3. Why should I complain 

Of want or distress, 
Temptation or pain ? 

He told me no less ; 
The heirs of salvation 

I know from his word. 
Through much tribulation. 

Must follow their Lord. 

4. Though dark be my way. 

Since he is my guide, 
'T is mine to obey, 

'T is his to provide ; 
His way.was much rougher. 

And darker than mine ; 
Did Jesus thus suffer, 

And shall I repine ? 

5. His love in time past. 

Forbids me to think 
He'll leave me at last 

In trouble to sink : 
Though painful at present, 

'T will cease before long, 
And then, O how pleasant 
The conqueror's song." 



DR. NETTLETON, 309 

Being one day in very great pain, he said to me, " I ought 
not to complain ; but all that I have ever suffered in the course 
of my life, is nothing in comparison with this. But it is noth- 
ing in comparison with what I deserve." " No," said I, " nor 
is it worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be 
revealed." He requested me to take from the shelf and hand 
to him the Remains of Carlos Wilcox ; and with great interest 
he read the following lines : 

" But wherefore will not God 
E'en now, from ills on others brought, exempt 
The offspring of regenerating grace, 
The children of his love ? Imperfect yet, 
They need the chastenings of eternal care, 
To save them from the wily blandishments 
Of error, and to win their hearts away 
From the polluting, ruining joys of earth !" 

Speaking at one time of his disease, as that which for many 
years he had dreaded more than any other, he pointed me to 
the following passage in the Life of Samuel Pearce, as expres- 
sive of his own feelings. 

" It was never, till to-day, that I got any personal instruc- 
tion from our Lord's telling Peter by ichat death he should 
glorify God. Oh, what a satisfying thought, that God appoints 
those means of dissolution, whereby he gets most glory to 
himself. It was the very thing I needed ; for, of all the ways 
of dying, that which I most dreaded was by consumption, (in 
which it is now most probable my disorder will issue. But 
O, my dear Lord, if by this death I can most glorify thee, I 
prefer it to all others, and thank thee that by this means thou 
art hastening my fuller enjoyment of thee in a purer world." 

During his sickness, he greatly enjoyed the society of his 
brethren in the ministry, and other christian friends ; and was 
often heard to say that he never loved his friends so well 
before. Every little favor shown him seemed deeply to affect 
him and awaken emotions of gratitude. He would say, " O, 
how kind this is." 



310 MEMOIR OF ' 

On the first day of January, 1843, which was the sabbath, 
he sent the following note to the Seminary church, with a 
request that it should be read at the communion. 

" The Rev. Mr. Nettleton sends his very affectionate regards 
to the members of this church, requesting an interest in their 
prayers, that God would sanctify him wholly in spirit, in soul, 
and in body, and prepare him for the solemn hour of exchang- 
ing worlds, whenever it shall come." 

The next morning I called to see him, and found him in an 
unusually happy frame of mind. After inquiring whether his 
note was received, he remarked with great animation, his eyes 
sparkling through the tears, that he loved the church more 
and more. He expressed a peculiar affection for the students 
of the Seminary, and an ardent desire that they might become 
faithful ministers of the gospel. He mentioned the great sat- 
isfaction which it had given him to hear of the prosperity and 
usefulness of those who had gone out from the Seminary. 
He then went on to expatiate on the importance of a high 
standard of ministerial character, on account of its great influ- 
ence on the interests of the church. He deprecated particu- 
larly, in the ministers of Christ, every thing which savors of 
pride and self-sufficieney — -every thing which looks like osten- 
tation, or a desire to attract notice to themselves. He loved 
to see ministers humble, meek, unassuming, steadily devoted 
to their work, and more anxious to glorify God, and save the 
souls of men, than to acquire popularity. 

He often remarked that a time of health was the time to 
prepare for death, and the time to give evidence of an interest 
in Christ. He said he had seen persons who, when in health, 
were very much devoted to the world ; but who, when brought 
upon a sick bed, were very religious ; agreeably to the repre- 
sentation in Jer. xxii. 20, 23. " Go up to Lebanon and cry, 
and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages, for 
all thy lovers are destroyed. I spake unto thee in THy 

PROSPERITY, BUT THOU SAIDST, I WILL NOT HEAR. ThIS HATH 



DR. NETTLETON. 311 

BEEN THY MANNER FROM THY YOUTH, THAT THOU OBEYEDST 

NOT MY VOICE. The loind shall eat up all thy pastures, and 
thy lovers shall go into captivity ; surely then shall thou be 
ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness. O, inhabitant 
of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious 

SHALT THOU BE WHEN THY PANGS COME UPON THEE." 

A short time before his death, when he was very ill, and 
when he thought it probable that he had but a short time to 
live, I said to him, you are in good hands. " Certainly," he 
replied. Are you willing to be there ? " I am. I know not," 
said he, " that I have any advice to give my friends. My 
whole preaching expresses my views. If I could see the 
pilgrims, scattered abroad, who thought they experienced reli- 
gion under my preaching, I should like to address them. I 
would tell them that the great truths of the gospel appear 
more precious than ever ; and that they are the truths which 
now sustain my soul." He said, " you know I have never 
placed much dependence on the manner in which persons 
die." He spake of a farewell sermon which he preached 
in Virginia, from these words : While ye Kave the light, walk 
in the light. He told the people, that he wished to say some 
things to them, that he should not be able to say to them on a 
dying bed. And he would now say to all his friends, " While 
ye have the light, walk in the light." While making these 
remarks, there was a peculiar lustre on his countenance. I 
said to him, I trust you feel no solicitude respecting the issue 
of your present sickness. He replied with emphasis, '"No, 
none at all. I am glad that it is not for me to say. It is 
sweet to trust in the Lord." 

During the last twenty-four hours of his life, he said but 
little. In the evening of the day before his death, I informed 
him that we considered him near the close of life, and said to 
him, I hope you enjoy peace of mind. By the motion of his 
head, he gave me an affirmative answer. He continued to fail 
through the night, and at 8 o'clock in the morning, he calmly 



312 MEMOIR OF 

fell asleep, as we trust, in the arms of his Saviour. May all 
his friends remember his dying counsel, " While ye have 

THE LIGHT, WALK IN THE LIGHT." 

" Farewell, dear brother, may thy mantle rest 

Upon the youthful prophets of our God. 
Farewejl. — Now rest, amid the blessed band, 

With whom thou once didst worship here below, 
And oft didst take sweet counsel. There are seals 

Thy ministry attesting, and the crowns 
Of thy rejoicing through eternal days. 

There numbers beyond number of the sav'd 
Together sing Redemption's endless song." 



CHAPTER XV. 

His general character. 
INTELLECTUAL CHARACTER. 

Dr. Nettleton possessed a clear, vigorous and discrim- 
inating mind — a mind adapted to investigation, and well dis- 
ciplined by study. The course of his life, particularly in the 
first years of his ministry, was such as to prevent him from 
cultivating a very extensive acquaintance with books. But 
Jiis^nind was ever active, and constantly engaged in search 
of truth. Amid his abundant labors, he found some time for 
reading ; and the books which he read, were well selected, 
and thoroughly studied. He made no pretensions to great 
scientific attainments, nor to any very extensive acquaintance 
with general literature ; but his mind was well stored with 
biblical and theological knowledge. Few men ever possess- 
ed a more thorough acquaintance with the Bible, or were 
capable of expounding it in a more interesting manner. 
During his last protracted illness, it was a feast to sit by his 
bed-side and hear him open the scriptures. His expositions 
were so clear and natural, and were enlivened by such vivid 
and striking illustrations, and interspersed with such weighty 
practical remarks, as to render them not only exceedingly 
entertaining, but in a high degree edifying. 

Dr. Nettleton was a profound divine ; and in every species 
of theological discussion he was perfectly at home. With 

27 



314 MEMOIR OF 

the common objections and cavils against the doctrines of the 
gospel, he was very familiar ; and for skill in stopping the 
mouths of gainsayers, and in speaking a word in season to 
persons of every description, he was highly distinguished. 

A few anecdotes in illustration of this remark, will be here 
inserted. 

Being accosted by a Universalist, who wished to engage in 
a discussion on the doctrine of future punishment, he said to 
him, " I will not enter into any dispute with you at present ; 
but I should be pleased to have you state to me your views, 
that I may have them to think of." The man accordingly 
informed him, that in his opinion mankind received all their 
punishment in this life, and that all would be happy after death. 
Dr. Nettleton then asked him to explain certain passages of 
scripture, such as the account of a future judgment in the xxv. 
chapter of Matthew, and some others ; merely suggesting dif- 
ficulties for him to solve, without calling in question any of 
his positions. After taxing his ingenuity for some time in 
this way, and thus giving him opportunity to perceive* the 
difficulty of reconciling his doctrine with the language of 
inspiration ; he said to him, " you believe, I presume, the 
account given by Moses of the deluge, and of the destruction 
of Sodom and Gomorrah." " Certainly," he replied. 

"It seems, then," said Dr. Nettleton, " that the world became 
exceeding corrupt, and God determined to destroy it by a 
deluge of water. He revealed his purpose to Noah, and 
directed him to prepare an ark in which he and his family 
might be saved. Noah believed God, and prepared the ark. 
Meanwhile he was a preacher of righteousness. He warned 
the wicked around him of their danger, and exhorted them to 
prepare to meet their God. But his warnings were disre- 
garded. They doubtless flattered themselves that God was 
too good a being thus to destroy his creatures. But notwith- 
standing their unbelief, the flood came, and if your doctrine is 
true, swept them all up to heaven. And what became of Noah, 



DR. NETTLETON. 315 

that faithful servant of God? He was tossed to and fro 
on the waters, and was doomed to trials and sufferings for 
three hundred and fifty years longer, in this evil world ; 
whereas, if he had been wicked enough, he might have gone 
to heaven with the rest. 

" And there were the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which 
had become so corrupt, that God determined to destroy them 
by a tempest of fire. He revealed his purpose to Lot, and 
directed him and his family to make their escape. ' And Lot 
went out and spake to his sons-in-law, saying. Up I get ye out 
of this place, for the Lord will destroy this city. But he 
seemed as one that mocked to his sons-in-law.' They did 
not believe that any such doom w^as impending. They doubt- 
less flattered themselves that God was too good a being to 
burn up his creatures. But no sooner had Lot made his escape, 
than it rained fire and brimstone from the Lord out of heaven, 
and they all, it seems, ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire ; 
while pious Lot was left to w^ander in the mountains, and to 
suffer many grievous afflictions in this vale of tears ; whereas, 
if he had been wicked enough, he might have gone to heaven 
vv^ith the rest." After making this statement, he requested 
the man to reflect on these things, and bade him an affection- 
ate adieu. 

A Restorationist once attacked him, and quoted these words 
of the Apostle Peter in support of his doctrine. " By which 
also he went and preached to the spirits in prison." Dr. 
Nettleton observed to him, that the time was specified in the 
next verse, when Christ preached to these spirits in prison. 
It was, " when once the long suffering of God waited in the 
days of Noah. It was by his spirit which dwelt in Noah, 
that he preached to those who are now spirits in prison." 
" No," said the man, " that cannot be the meaning of the pas- 
sage. The meaning is, that Christ, after his crucifixion, went 
down to hell and preached to the spirits in prison." " Be it 
so," said Dr. Nettleton, " what did he preach ?" " I do not 



316 MEMOIROF 

know," he replied, " but I suppose he preached the gospel." 
" Do you think, said Dr. Nettleton that he preached to them 
any thing different from what he preached on earth ?" "Cer- 
tainly not," said he. " Well," said Dr. Nettleton, " when 
Christ was on the earth he told sinners, that if they should be 
cast into prison, they should not come out thence, till they 
had paid the uttermost farthing. If he went down to hell to 
preach to the lost spirits there, he doubtless told them, you 
must remain here, till you have suffered all that your sins 
deserve. What influence, then, would his preaching have 
towards releasing them from the place of torment ?" 

An Antinomian complained to him, that ministers dwelt so 
much, in their preaching, on the demands of the law. 
" Believers," said he, " are not under law, but under grace." 
" Is it not the duty of believers," said Dr. Nettleton, " to 
repent ?" " Certainly," he replied. " Of what is it their duty 
to repent ?" said Dr. Nettleton. The man saw at once the 
precipice before him. If he said, of sin, he perceived that 
the next question would be, what is sin but a transgression of 
the law ? and if believers are not under obligations to obey the 
law, what can there be for them to repent of? 

This is a specimen of the manner in which he often demol- 
ished, at a stroke, the errors of men, and caused the light of 
truth to flash instant conviction on their minds. 

Falling in company with a violent opposer of religion, who 
professed to be a Universalist, and who also denied the inspi- 
ration of the scriptures, he said to him, " I will not dispute 
with you ; but I presume I can tell you how you came to 
adopt your present sentiments. I suspect you have seen the 
time when the Spirit of God was striving with you — when vou 
felt that you was a sinner, and that you must repent or perish. 
But your wicked heart resisted these convictions. You loved 
your sins, and was unwilling to renounce them. Your con- 
science told you that you must pray, or you would be lost ; but 
your heart replied, I will not pray, nor will I be lost. Hence 



DR. NETTLETON. 317 

you undertook to convince yourself that God will not punish 
the wicked. But I do not think you have yet quite silenced 
your conscience. You still have some forebodings of future 
misery. You are sometimes afraid, at least, that the Bible is 
true, and that there is a day of judgment, and a world of wo. 
But if you wish entirely to silence your conscience, you are 
in a fair way to do it. Continue to flatter yourself, and to 
resist the truth, and God will help you to succeed. Thus it 
is written, ' For this cause God shall send them strong delu- 
sion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be 
damned, who received not the love of the truth, but had 
pleasure in unrighteousness.' " 

This address proved an arrow in the man's heart. He saw 
himself to be a lost sinner, and soon became a hopeful subject 
of renewing grace. 

A caviler once said to him, " how came I by my wicked 
heart ?" " That is a question," said he, " which does not so 
much concern you as another, viz: how you shall get rid of 
your wicked heart. You have a wicked heart, which renders 
you entirely unfit for the kingdom of God, and you must have 
a new heart, or you cannot be saved ; and the question which 
now most deeply concerns you, is, how you shall obtain it." 
" But," said the man, " I wish you to tell me how I came by 
my wicked heart." " I shall not undertake to do that at pres- 
ent," said Dr. Nettleton ; " for if I could do it to your entire 
satisfaction, it would not help you in the least towards obtaining 
a new heart. The great thing for which I am solicitoiis, is, 
that you should become a new creature and be prepared for 
heaven." As the man manifested no wish to hear any thing 
on that subject, but still pressed the question how he came by 
his wicked heart, Dr. Nettleton told him that his condition 
resembled that of a man who is drowning, while his friends 
are attempting to save his life. As he rises to the surface of 
the water, he exclaims, " how came I here ?" " That ques- 
tion," says one of his friends, " does not concern you now. 
27* 



S18 MEMOIR OF 

Take hold of this rope." " But how came I here ?" he 
exclaims again. " I shall not stop to answer that question 
now," says his friend. " Then I'll drown," rephes the infat- 
uated man, and spurning all proffered aid, sinks to the bottom, 

A stupid, worldly man once said to him, " you know, Mr, 
Nettleton, that when we would do good, evil is present with 
us." " Yes," he replied, " and that is a bad case ; but it is 
worse, when we would not do good, and evil is present 
with us." 

A man once asked him, " how shall I get a disposition to 
pray?" " I wish to know, in the first place," he replied, 
" whether you are sincere in asking the question ; for if you 
are not, it will be of no use for me to answer it, because you 
will not follow my directions." " I am sincere," said the man ; 
" I really wish to know how I can get a disposition to pray." 
" It seems, then," said Dr. Nettleton, " that you have already 
got a disposition to get a disposition to pray. How did you 
get that. And why is it not just as easy to have a disposition 
to pray, as to have a disposition to get a disposition to pray !" 
In this vv^ay he showed the man that he deceived himself in 
supposing that he was sincere in asking the question. 

A young female, who had been for some time in a state of 
religious anxiety, said to him, "v/hat do you think of the doc- 
trine of election ? Some say it is true, and some say it is not 
true, and I do not know what to think of it." " And what do 
you wish to think of it ?" said Dr. Nettleton. " I wish," said 
she, " to think that it is not true." " Suppose then," said Dr. 
Nettleton, '•' that it is not true. The doctrine of repentance is 
true. You must repent or perish. Now if the doctrine of 
election is not true, what reason have you to believe you ever 
shall repent V After a moment's reflection, she replied, '' if 
the doctrine of election is not true, I never shall repent." 
Her eyes were then opened upon her true condition. Every 
refuge failed her. She saw that she was entirely dependent 
on the sovereign grace of God ; and there is reason to believe 



DR. NETTLETON. 319 

she was soon brought out of darkness into God's marvelous 
light. 

A certain individual said to him, " I cannot get along with 
the doctrine of election." " Then," said he, " get along with- 
out it. You are at liberty to get to heaven the easiest way 
you can. Whether the doctrine of election is true or not, it 
is true that you must repent and believe, and love God. Now 
what we tell you, is, that such is the wickedness of your 
heart, that you never will do these things, unless God has 
determined to renew your heart. If you do not believe that 
your heart is so wicked, make it manifest by complying with 
the terms of salvation. Why do you stand caviling with the 
doctrine of election ? Suppose you should prove it to be 
false ; what have you gained ? You must repent and belicA-e 
in Christ after all. Why do you not immediately comply with 
these terms of the gospel ? When you have done this, with- 
out the aids of divine grace, it v/ill be soon enough to oppose 
the doctrine of election. Until you shall have done this, we 
shall still believe that the doctrine of election lies at the foun- 
dation of all hope in your case." 

A woman, who was known to be a great opposer of the 
doctrine of election, said to him one day, '• you talked to me 
yesterday, as if you thought I could repent." " And can you 
not?" said he. " No, I cannot, unless God shall change my 
heart." " Do you really believe," said he, " that you cannot 
repent, unless God has determined to change your heart ?" 
'' I do," said she. "Why madam," said he, "you hold to 
the doctrine of election in a stricter sense than I do. I 
should prefer to say, not that t/ou cannot, but that you never 
77;i7Z repent, unless God has determined to change your heart." 

To a young woman who had long been thoughtful, but not 
deeply impressed, and who seemed to continue from week to 
week in the same state of mind, he said one day, •'•' there are 
some who never will become true believers. Christ said unto 
the Jews. ' ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep.' 



320 MEMO IS. 1* 

Perhaps this is your case : and I tell you now, that if you are 
not one of Christ's sheep, you never will believe on him, and 
I hope it will ring in your ears." And it did ring in her ears. 
From that moment, she found no peace, till, as she hoped, her 
peace was made with God, 

A young female, who had been for some time under dis- 
tress of mind, said to him one day, " I know not what to do 
next." " Next !" he replied, " Next to what !" She instant- 
ly saw the worthlessness of all her prayers and strivings, and 
replied, '' Next to nothing." 

To a man, who manifested great opposition to the doctrine 
of election, he once said, " If I should ^o to heaven, I feel as 
if I should wish to say in the language of the apostle, ' who 
hath saved us and called us with an holy calling ; not accord- 
ing to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, 
which were given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began.' 
Now, if we should meet in heaven, and I should make use of 
this language, will you quarrel with me there ?" 

" Do you believe," said an Arminian to him one day, " that 
God influences the vv^ill ?" '• I do," he replied. " How do 
you prove it ?" " I prove it by this passage of scripture. 
' For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do.' " 
" But that does not mean," said the Arminian, " that God 
influences the will, and now how do you prove it ?" " I prove 
it," said Dr. Nettleton, " by this passage, ' For it is God that 
worketh in you both to will and to do.' " " But that, I say, 
does not mean that God influences the will." " And what 
does it mean ?" said Dr. Nettleton. " It means," said the Ar- 
minian, " that God gives us a gracious power to will and to 
do." " Then it does not mean," said Dr. Nettleton, " thai 
God works in us to will and to do .'" 

In one place, where he was laboring in an interesting revi- 
val of religion, there was a man of considerable influence, who 
was a member of the church ; but whose principles and prac- 
tice were a great reproach to religion. He opposed all 



DR.NETTLETON. 321 

religious meetings, except on the Sabbath. At the same time, 
he made no objection to balls and parties of pleasm^e, but 
encouraged his children to attend them. Two of his daugh- 
ters, one evening, without his knowledge, went to hear Dr. 
Nettleton preach. Finding that they had gone, he repaired to 
the place, and interrupted the meeting by ordering his daugh- 
ters to return immediately home. Then addressing the preach- 
er, he said, " Mr. Nettleton, will you call and see me to-mor- 
row morning at 9 o'clock ?" " I will, sir," he replied. Ac- 
cordingly at the time proposed, he was at the house. " Mr. 
Nettleton," said the man, " I do not approve of night meetings." 
" Neither do I approve of balls," said Dr. Nettleton, " I think 
their influence upon young people is bad." " I do not approve 
of such meetings as yours," said he. '' Oh!" said Dr. Net- 
tleton, " it is to religious meetings that you object, when people 
meet together to worship God. If I understand you, you feel 
no opposition to meetings of young people for amusement, if 
they are held in the night, and continue all night. Did you 
ever take your children from the ball-room ?" " The com- 
mand," said he, " is six days shalt thou labor." " Did you 
ever quote that command," said Dr. Nettleton, " to prove that 
it is wrong to attend balls, and parties of pleasure?" 

Then assuming a solemn and affectionate mode of address, 
he said to the man, " my dear sir, you are a member of the 
church, but you must not wonder if you are regarded by your 
acquaintance, as in heart, the enemy of religion, unless you 
pursue a more consistent course of conduct. While you up- 
hold balls, and oppose meetings for religious worship, you 
will find it difficult to make any body believe that you have 
the least regard for the religion which you profess." This 
address brought tears into the man's eyes, and whatever may 
have been his feelings, there was after this, a decided change 
in his outward deportment. He suffered his children to 
attend religious meetings ; nor do I know that he ever after- 
wards openly opposed them. 



322 ME M 01 R OF 

He once fell in company with two men who were disputing 
on the doctrine of the saints' perseverance. As he came into 
their presence, one of them said, " I believe this doctrine has 
been the means of filling hell with christians." " Sir," said 
Dr. Nettleton, " do you believe that God knows all things ?" 
" Certainly I do," said he. " How, then, do you interpret 
this text ? ' I never knew you,' " said Dr. Nettleton. After 
reflecting a moment, he replied, " the meaning must be, I 
never knew you as christians." " Is that the m.eaning?" said 
Dr. Nettleton. " Yes, it must be," he replied, " for certainly 
God knows all things." " Well," said Dr. Nettleton, " I pre- 
sume you are right. Now this is what our Saviour will say 
to those, who at the last day, shall say to him. Lord, Lord, 
have we not eaten and drunken in thy presence, &c. Now, 
when Saul, and Judas, and Hymeneus, and Philetus, and De- 
mas, and all v/ho, you suppose, have fallen from grace, shall 
say to Christ, Lord, Lord ; he will say to them, I never knew 
you — I NEVER knew you as christians. Where then are the 
christians that are oroinsf to hell ?" 

Said an individual to him, " do you believe in the doctrine 
of the saints' perseverance ?" " It is my opinion," he rephed, 
"that that doctrine is taught in the Bible." "I should like 
then," said the individual, " to have you explain this passage, 
Ezek. xviii. 24. ' When the righteous turneth away from his 
righteousness and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to 
all the abominations that the luicked man doeth, shall he live 1 
All the righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentionad ; 
in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he 
hath sinned, in them shall he die.'' " 

Said Dr. Nettleton, " you have imposed upon me a hard 
task. That is a difficult text to explain ; and what renders it 
the more difficult, is, that the commentators are not agreed as 
to its meaning. Some have supposed, that by a righteous 
man, in this passage, is meant a self-righteous man." " I do 
not believe that," said the individual. " Neither do I, " said 



DR. NETTLETON. 823 

Nettleton, " for in that case, it would seem to teach that if a 
self-righteous man should persevere in his self-righteousness, 
he would be saved. Some have supposed, that by a righteous 
man is meant one who is apparently righteous." "I do not 
believe that," said the individual. " Neither do I," said Dr. 
Nettleton, " for in that case, the text would seem to teach, 
that if a hypocrite should persevere in his hypocrisy, he 
would be saved. You suppose, do you not, that by a right- 
eous man in this passage, is meant a true saint ?" " Certain- 
ly, I do." " And you suppose that by a righteous man's turn- 
ing away from his righteousness, is meant falling away, as 
David did, and as Peter did ?" " Certainly." " And you be- 
lieve that David and Peter are nov/ in hell ?" " No, by no 
means. David and Peter repented and were restored to the 
favor of God." " But," said Dr. Nettleton, " when the right- 
eous turneth from his righteousness — in his trespass that he 
hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them 
shall he die — in them shall he die. Now if David and 
Peter did turn from their righteousness in the sense of this 
passage, how can we possibly believe that they were saved?" 
The individual now found the laboring oar in his own hands ; 
and after attem.pting for some time unsuccessfully to explain 
the diPnculty in which he found his own doctrine involved, 
Dr. Nettleton said to him, '' if there is any difficulty in ex- 
plaining this text of scripture, I do not see but you are quite 
as much troubled with it as I am." 

A man once said to him, " I sincerely desire to be a chris- 
tian. I have often gone to the house of God, hoping that 
something which should be said, might be set home upon my 
mind by the spirit of God, and be blessed to my salvation," 
" You are willing, then, are you not," said Dr. Nettleton, 
'' that I should converse with you, hoping that my conversa- 
tion may be the means of your conversion ?" " I am," he 
replied. '- If you are willing to be a christian," said Dr. Net- 
tleton, " you are willing to perform the duties of religion ; for 



324 MEMOIR OF 

this is what is implied in being a christian. Are you willing 
to perform these duties ?" " I do not know but I am." " You 
are the head of a family. One of the duties of religion is 
family prayer. Are you willing to pray in your family ?" " I 
should be," he replied, " if I were a christian. But it cannot 
be the duty of such a man as I am, to pray. The prayers of 
the wicked are an abomination unto the Lord." "And is it 
not," said Dr. Nettleton, " an abomination unto the Lord, to 
live without prayer ? But just let me show you how you de- 
ceive yourself. You think you really desire to be converted. 
But you are not willing even to be convicted. Just as soon 
as I mention a duty which you are neglecting, you begin to 
excuse and justify yourself, on purpose to keep your sin out 
of sight. You are not willing to see that it is a heinous sin to 
live in the neglect of family prayer. How can you expect to 
be brought to repentance, until you are willing to see your 
sinfulness ? And how can you flatter yourself that you really 
desire to^ be a christian, while you thus close your eyes 
against the truth ?" 

A young lady, who was under concern of mind, said to him, 
" I certainly do desire to be a christian. I desire to be holy. 
I would ^ give all the world for an interest in Christ." He 
replied, "what you say, will not bear examination. If you 
really desjre religion for what it is, there is nothing to hinder 
you from possessing it. I can make a representation w^hich 
v^ill show you your heart, if you are willing to see it." " I 
am," said she. " It will look very bad," saic? he, " but if you 
are willing to see it, I will make the representation. Suppose 
you were a young lady of fortune ; — and suppose a certain 
young man should desire to obtain your fortune, and should 
for that reason, conclude to pay his addresses to you. But he 
does not happen to be pleased with your person. He does 
not love you, but hates you. And suppose he should come 
to you, and say, I really wish I could love you, but I do not. 



DR. NETTLETON. 325' 

I would give all the world if I could love you, but I cannot. 
What would you think of that young man ? " 

A person once said in his presence, that to inculcate upon 
sinners their dependence on God for a new heart, is suited to 
discourage effort, and to lead them to sit down in despair. He 
replied, " the very reverse of this is true. Suppose a number 
of men are locked up in a room, playing cards. Some person 
informs them that the roof of the building is on fire, and that 
they must make their escape, or they will perish in the flames. 
Says one of them, ' we need not be in haste, v/e shall have 
time to finish the game.' ' But,' says ihe person who gave 
the alarm, ' your door is locked.' ' No matter for that,' he 
replies ; * I have the key in my pocket, and can open it at 
any moment,' ' But I tell you, that key will not open the 
door.' ' Won't it V he exclaims ; and rising from the table, 
flies to the door, and exerts himself to the utmost to open it. 
So sinners, while they believe that there is no difficulty in 
securing their salvation at any moment, quiet their conscien- 
ces, and silence their fears. But when they are taught that 
such is the wickedness of their hearts, that they never wdil 
repent, unless God interposes by his regenerating grace ; they 
are alarmed, and begin to inquire, in deep distress, what they 
shall do to be saved." 

A young man of liberal education, and of a clear and vig- 
orous mind, having just read Edwards' Treatise on the Will, 
said to him, " the reasoning is conclusive. It is impossible 
to controvert it. It amounts to absolute demonstration." To 
which he assented. " Then," said the young man, " I am not 
a free agent, and am not accountable for my conduct." " That 
does not follow," said Dr. Nettleton. " I admit your prem- 
ises, but I deny your conclusions ; and moreover, you do not 
believe it yourself. If you did, you would not fear to blas- 
pheme your Maker. But you dare not do it. You know you 
are a free and accountable agent." 

To a young man, who professed to be an atheist, he said, 
28 



326 MEMOIR OF 

*' you are not so sure as you pretend to be, that there is no 
God. You dare not go alone, and kneel down, and in a sol- 
emn manner offer a prayer. If there is no God, you will 
incur no danger by so doing ; and yet you dare not do it. This 
shows that you are afraid that there is a God, who cannot be 
deceived, and who will not be mocked." 

In conversing with opposers of religion, while he was very 
plain and faithful, he was never harsh in his manner ; but 
always kind and affectionate, in obedience to the divine injunc- 
tion, " In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves ; 
if peradventure, God will give them repentance to the ac- 
knowledging of the truth." And not a few of the open enemies 
of religion, were through his instrumentality hopefully con- 
verted to Christ. 

CHARACTER AS A PREACHER. 

The preaching of Dr. Nettleton was, for the most part, 
extemporaneous. He rarely had any manuscript before him, 
unless it were a very brief outline of his discourse. He was 
compelled to adopt this course, from the circumstances in 
which he was placed. Laboring almost constantly in revivals 
of religion, his time was so much occupied in attending reli- 
gious meetings, and in conversing with individuals in private, 
that he found it impossible to write his sermons. After he 
had preached a short time, his mind was exceedingly tried on 
this subject ; and he seriously deliberated on the question, 
whether it was not his duty to remit some of his other labors, 
that he might devote more of his time to study, and partic- 
ularly to v/riting. But after having prayerfully considered the 
subject, and taken counsel of his brethren in the ministry, he 
came to the conclusion, that it was his duty to persevere in 
that course, which God was crowning with such signal 
success. 

But notwithstanding these disadvantages, he was an instruc- 
tive preacher. Although he preached principally without wri- 



DR. NETTLETON, 327 

ting, he did not preach without study. He bestowed much 
thought on his sermons. They were rich in matter ; and 
although they were so plain as to be easily understood by the 
most illiterate, they were interesting and instructive to persons 
of the most cultivated intellect. He investigated subjects 
thoroughly, and exhibited the result of his investigations with 
a clearness and force rarely, if ever, equaled. The remark 
of a plain man, after having listened to one of his discourses, 
will give some idea of the character of his preaching. " While 
he was speaking," said he, " a stream of light went right 
through me." 

He was a doctrinal preacher. — It was his opinion that a 
belief of the fundamental doctrines of the gospel, is the basis 
of all genuine religious experience. He was aware that there 
might be religious excitement, and much religious zeal, where 
these doctrines are discarded, and even opposed ; but he had 
no confidence in such excitements. He had learned from his 
own observation and experience, that the preaching of these 
doctrines is suited to promote genuine revivals of religion ; 
and that revivals, where they are not faithfully preached, are 
apt to run into the wildest fanaticism. He believed that faith- 
ful, judicious doctrinal preaching, is adapted to humble saints, 
and excite them to fervent prayer, and the diligent discharge 
of their various duties ; and at the same time, to produce con- 
viction in the consciences of sinners, to destroy their self- 
righteous hopes, and to bring them to the foot of the cross. 
He had no fears that the doctrines of grace, when clearly ex- 
plained, and properly exhibited, would paralyze effort, and 
encourage sloth and spiritual apathy. He had abundant proof 
continually before his eyes, of a directly contrary effect. These 
doctrines, in his hands, were the sword of the spirit, and the 
power of God unto salvation. 

But w^hile he was pre-eminently a doctrinal preacher, he 
was at the same time, 

A practical preacher. — He preached the doctrines practi- 



328 MEMOIR OF 

cally. While he explained them and rescued them from the 
misrepresentations of cavilers and errorists, and enforced them 
by irresistible arguments, he never preached them as matters 
of mere speculation ; but always, as truths of everlasting mo- 
ment. He applied them to the hearts and consciences of his 
hearers, as subjects in vi^hich they had a personal and infinite 
interest. He set no value upon a mere speculative faith. He 
was aware that men may hold the truth in unrighteousness ; 
and while he strenuously insisted on the great Protestant 
doctrine of justification by faith, he as strenuously insisted on 
the necessity of a living faith, which worketh by love, and 
purifieth the heart, and manifests itself in a life of holy 
obedience. 

He was a wise ipTeaclier. — Wise in the selection of his topics, 
and in his mode of discussing them ; but especially in adapt- 
ing his discourses to the state and circumstances of his hear- 
ers. In this respect, he was particularly distinguished. When 
he commenced laboring in a place, he very soon ascertained 
the state of the people, and what kind of instruction was suited 
to their condition. If they had previously had an undue pro- 
portion of doctrinal preaching, and were beginning to pervert 
the doctrines by contemplating them in such a light as to fur- 
nish them with an excuse for the neglect of duty ; he found it 
necessary to press upon the consciences of sinners their obli- 
gations, and to urge the duty of immediate repentance. Where 
the previous instruction had been of an opposite character, he 
found it necessary to dwell much on the doctrine of regen- 
eration, and other kindred topics. This is what, in familiar 
language, he called " cross-ploughing ;" and he uniformly 
found -it to produce the desired effect. During the progress of 
a revival, he always seemed to know what was needed at 
every particular crisis, and all his discourses were admirably 
timed. 

He was a 'plain -preacher. — By this I mean, that he exhibited 
the truth with remarkable clearness, so that every body could 



DR. NETTLETON. 329 

understand it, ; and with such force of reasoning, that it could 
not easily be resisted. Although he possessed a strong and 
discriminating mind, and was somewhat fond of metaphysical 
discussion ; yet he rarely introduced abstract and metaphys- 
ical reasoning into the pulpit. His reasoning was of the 
rhetorical kind, which, often at a stroke, carried overpower- 
ing conviction to the mind. It was said by one who was well 
acquainted with his mode of illustrating and enforcing divine 
truth, " He is always unanswerable." And it was even so. 
What he undertook to establish, seemed to be settled beyond 
controversy. And it was done in so simple and easy a man- 
ner, as to cause the hearer to wonder that he had never seen 
it thus before. 

He was a solemn preacher. — He carefully avoided in the 
pulpit, witticisms, ludicrous comparisons, and every thing 
suited to produce levity. He felt that he was standing in the 
presence of God, and addressing immortal beings on subjects 
of infinite moment. He had a higher object than to amuse his 
hearers, who were slumbering on the brink of eternal perdition. 
His heart yearned with compassion for them, and his object 
was to impress upon their minds a sense of their lost condi- 
tion. The great realities of eternity were before his mind. 
He of course felt solemn. It was not affectation, but a reality. 
He had no sanctimonious tone. His manner was simple and 
unaffected. His articulation and emphasis were natural, and 
the deep bass tones of his voice were sometimes peculiarly 
solemn and impressive. Under his preaching, an awful so- 
lemnity usually pervaded the assembly. No one, unless it 
Avere some bold blasphemer, was disposed to trifle. Such 
were the manifest tokens of the presence of God, that the 
minds of the people were filled with awe, and the breathless 
silence was broken only by the occasional sighs and sobs of 
anxious souls. 

He was a faithful preacher. — Few men ever had a more 
vivid sense of the responsibility connected with the sacred 
28* 



330 MEMOIR OF 

office ; or were enabled more successfully to resist the various 
temptations to unfaithfulness. He was, in an unusual degree, 
raised above the fear of man. He made it his object to 
please, not men, but God, who trieth our hearts ; and no 
earthly consideration could induce him to keep back what he 
believed it to be his duty to preach. Still, he was never harsh 
and denunciatory; but always kind and affectionate. He 
never made it his object to give offence, but always to com- 
mend himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 
His heart glowed with love to souls, and it was his great 
desire to be instrumental in their salvation. And for this pur- 
pose, he set before them with great plainness their sin and 
danger, and solemnly and affectionately warned them to flee 
from the wrath to come. 

The following conclusion of a sermon on the divine law, 
may serve as a specimen of his faithfulness in applying divine 
truth to the consciences of his hearers. 

" But what must be the state of every sinner out of Christ ? 
Sinner, in what court will you plead ? At the tribunal of jus- 
tice, or of mercy ? It is with the kindest intention that you 
are now called upon to hear, that the sentence of eternal death 
is pronounced upon you, and that this sentence is holy, just, 
and good. Let the miseries of this life — let the messengei 
of death, and the dark world of wo, rise up to your view and 
testify how awful is that law which condemns you. To vin- 
dicate the honor of this broken law, everlasting fire is pre- 
pared for the devil and his angels. Here they dwell in endless 
torments. These, 0, sinner, were once angels of light, and 
dwelt in the presence of God. But how are they fallen, no 
more to rise ! They sinned against that God, whose law now 
condemns you. ' The inhabitants of the old world, and of 
Sodom, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance 
of eternal fire.' 

" Out of Christ, you are condemned already, and the wrath 
of God abideth on you. Out of Christ, all your actions hith- 



DR. NETTLETON. 331 

erto, are scanned by this perfect law, and not one sin is par- 
doned. Out of Christ, you stand this moment in awful hazard 
of losing your immortal soul, and suffering for every failure 
of perfect obedience to this holy law. Out of Christ, nothing 
but the mere mercy of that God, in whose hand is your life — 
the mercy of Him, whom you are continually provoking by 
your sins, this moment holds you from dropping into the flames 
of hell. What then must be the weight of your guilt? If 
one sin must send an angel of light into the bottomless pit — if 
in consequence of Adam's sin, he too, with all his posterity, 
might have been reserved in everlasting chains, under dark- 
ness, without one offer of pardoning mercy ; what must be 
your guilt, when every action is laid in the balance, and found 
wanting ? Oh, that you might hear, and tremble ! When 
God in awful majesty pronounced this law from Mount Sinai, 
his voice then shook the earth, and they that heard entreated 
that the word should not be spoken to them any more, for the 
guilty world could not endure that 'which was commanded. 
But this law still speaks, however deaf, and however careless 
the sinner may be — this law still speaks, and proclaims ap- 
proaching vengeance near. 

" But stop. The uplifted arm of vengeance is yet stayed. 
The collected wrath yet waits a moment. A voice from the 
mercy-seat — a warning voice is heard. The Saviour calls. 
Haste then, O sinner, haste to Christ, the only refuge from 
the storm, and covert from the gathering tempest. Then safe 
from the fear of evil, at a distance, you shall only hear the 
thunders roll ; while pardon, peace, and eternal life are 
yours"* 

He was an animated preacher. — This would naturally be 
inferred from the foregoing extract. He felt deeply the truths 

* The following fact has been communicated to the biographer, since the 
the publication of the first edition of this work. The sermon from which the 
above extract is taken, was preached by Dr. Nettleton, in Edinburgh, while on 



332 MEMOIR OF 

which he uttered, and aimed to impress them strongly on the 
minds of his hearers. He was not boisterous or vehement ; 
but there was an earnestness in his manner, which produced 
the conviction in all who heard him, that what he said came 
from the heart. He spake as a dying man to dying men. He 
felt that he stood on the verge of eternity, and that he was 
addressing immortal beings, to whom he must be a savor, 
either of life unto life, or of death unto death. This charac- 
teristic of his preaching is well described by Dr. Shepard, in 
the extract given from his letter in a former chapter. 

He was an eloquent preacher. — His, however, was not the 
eloquence which dazzles by splendid diction, and graceful 
delivery ; and which fills the hearers with admiration of the 
brilliant talents of the preacher. It v/as the eloquence of 
thought and feeling — eloquence which made the hearers forget 
the preacher, in the all-absorbing interest which they felt in 
the subject of his discourse. " If we were compelled," say 
the Edinburgh Reviewers, " to give a brief definition of elo- 
quence, we should say, it was practical reasoning, animated 
by strong emotion." It would be difiicult to give a better 
description of Dr. Nettleton's preaching, than that contained 
in this definition. 

His sermons, being mostly extemporaneous, were not, of 
course, characterized by elegance of style. But they exhibited 
a clearness, and force, and vivacity, which are seldom found 
in the written discourses of the most celebrated preachers. 
He was, it is true, generally diflrise, and sometimes repetitious. 
He would frequently dwell upon a thought, and present it in 
different aspects, for the purpose of impressing it more deeply 



While he was speaking, a pious woman who sat in a remote part of the house, 
was so affected that, leaving her seat and walking up in front of the pulpit, she 
thus addressed the preacher. " Dear Sir, don't forget, that ' God so loved the 
world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believe th on him might 
not perish, but have everlasting life.' " 



DR. NETTLETON. 333 

on the mind, and fixing it in the memory.* But he was never 
tedious. He kept the attention of the audience riveted to the 
subject. Every eye was fastened upon him, and the whole 
assembly listened in breathless silence. 

His elocution, though not the most graceful, was natural 
and forcible. His voice was clear, and melodious, and under 
complete command. His enunciation was distinct, and his 
emphasis, as I have already remarked, was natural, and some- 
times remarkably impressive. He was rather moderate and 
slow in the commencement of his discourse ; but as he advan- 
ced, he increased in fervor, till he reached, sometimes, the 
highest pitch of eloquence. Not a few educated men, of 
extensive acquaintance, and good taste, have pronounced his 
preaching the best specimen of genuine eloquence which they 
ever witnessed. If power to arrest and chain the attention of 
large auditories for hours together, and to stir up the fountains 
of deep feeling in the soul, is proof of eloquence, then surely 
Dr. Nettleton was eloquent. 

He was a successful -pTeaclier. — Soon after he began to 
preach, his labors were crowned with signal success, and for 
ten or eleven years he was almost constantly employed in 
guiding inquiring souls to Christ. Few men have ever been 
instrumental in the coiiversion of so many souls. Thousands 
have acknowledged him as their spiritual father, who will, I 
doubt not, be his joy "and crown in the day of the Lord. 

SOCIAL CHARACTER. 

Dr. Nettleton was never married. We cannot, of course, 
contemplate him in the conjugal and parental relations. He 
did not choose a life of celibacy, on account of disappoint- 

* It was a remark of one who had often heard him preach, " He had the art of 
repeating some short and striking sentence in a manner, and with an effect, 
which no man could successfully imitate. It was like the repeated strokes of 
the beetle, in the hand of a giant, upon the head of the wedge, driving it to the 
very heart of the knotty oak." 



334 MEMOIR OF 

ment, as some have supposed, or because he had not a soul 
formed for friendship ; but having devoted himself to a mis- 
sionary life, soon after his conversion, he supposed it would 
be necessary for him to remain single. Both he and Mills 
entertained the opinion, that it would be inexpedient, ^ if not 
impracticable, to take wives with them on a foreign mission ; 
and they entered into an agreement on their first acquaintance, 
to hold themselves free from all matrimonial engagements. 
Afterwards, the course of life pursued by Dr. Nettleton, was 
such as to render it inconvenient, to say the least, to enter into 
the family state. 

But as I have said, he had a soul formed for friendship. He 
possessed a mild and amiable disposition, and rendered him- 
self exceedingly agreeable in the society of his friends. No 
one could be long in his company without discovering the 
kindness of his heart. He never put on a morose, austere, or 
sanctimonious air. He was uniformly cheerful ; but never 
suffered his cheerfulness to degenerate into levity. His con- 
versational powers were good, and were agreeably and use- 
fully employed. He was very successful in his attempts to 
interest young persons, and to secure their confidence and 
esteem. He would address them with such kindness and 
tenderness, and make his conversation so entertaining, as well 
as instructive, that it could not fail to win their aff'ection, and 
cause them to take pleasure in his society. He was very 
much in the habit of introducing poetry to enliven conversa- 
tion, and give it a useful direction. In a circle of young per- 
sons, he would often read some striking passage from Cowper, 
or Milton, or Pollok, or Carlos Wilcox ; and after commenting 
on the beauties of the poetry, he would in a natural and easy 
way, lead their minds to the contemplation of some important 
truth suggested by the passage. Many a youth has in this 
way had his attention first arrested to the great concerns of 
eternity. 



DR. NETTLETON. 335 

HIS DISCRETION. 

Dr. Nettleton was preeminently a wise man. This, I pre- 
sume, no one will deny, who is intimately acquainted with his 
history. In the whole course of his Hfe, in matters of a public 
or private nature, he exhibited an uncommon degree of discre- 
tion. He took comprehensive views of things, and was able 
beyond most men to discern their relations and tendencies, 
and to trace actions into their ultimate results. Hence he 
was able to see, at all times, what was required by the circum- 
stances in which he was placed. He knew how to adapt 
means to ends, and so judicious was he in the selection of his 
means, that he seldom failed of accomplishing the ends which 
he had in view. He engaged in no visionary projects. He 
was not deficient in zeal ; but his was not the blind zeal 
which leads to rash and headlong measures ; but it was a zeal 
which is according to knowledge. A distinguished clergyman 
who had been intimately acquainted with his history for seve- 
ral years, and who had noticed with admiration the skill with 
which he formed and executed his plans for doing good, 
exclaimed, "he is the wisest man I ever knew." 

Good is sometimes done at great expense. The indiscre- 
tions of good men not unfrequently so mar their works of 
benevolence, as to render it doubtful whether more good is 
done than evil. As one remarks, " There are men in the 
sacred office, so constitutionally indiscreet, that in whatever 
they undertake, they will choose the Avrong way, if there is 
one. There always have been individuals rushing into the 
office, who are lamentably deficient, both in native and acquired 
powers, for the discharge of its duties. i\.n illiterate man, if 
he have good sense, and true humility, may do good in re\4- 
vals ; but if he is proud, and rash, and censorious, as well as 
ignorant, he will probably do much more hurt than good ; 
especially by revolting the sensibilities of intelligent men, who 



836 . MEMOIR OF 

think that religion should promote sobriety, decorum, and an 
amiable temper in its subjects." * 

Many of the religious excitements which have occurred in 
our country within the last twenty years, although they have 
doubtless been the means of the salvation of some souls ; have 
through injudicious management, resulted in incalculable evil. 
Desolation has followed in their track. Churches have been 
rent asunder. Pastors have been driven from their flocks. 
Souls, in great numbers, there is reason to fear, have been 
deluded with false and hypocritical hopes. Sinners have been 
hardened in impenitence. Not a few have been confirmed in 
infidelity ; and the very name of a revival has become a hiss- 
ing and a by-word. But it was not so under the labors of Dr. 
Nettleton. The good accomplished by his labors had no such 
drawbacks. The revivals, under his preaching, as we have 
seen, were remarkably pure. Those who were admitted to 
the churches, for the most part, adorned their profession. In 
those revivals, churches were built up, beautified, and strength- 
ened. Pastors were more firmly seated in the affections of 
their flocks ; and a benign influence was shed upon the sur- 
rounding community. 

When v/e consider the great evils which have been con- 
nected with the labors of many modern evangelists, and con- 
trast them with the immense, and almost unmingled good 
accomplished by his labors, we are forcibly struck with the 
wisdom of the man. 

Dr. Nettleton was a wise counsellor. Many of his breth- 
ren have felt and acknowledged their obligations to him for 
salutary advice in difficult and trying circumstances ; and 
have ascribed their own usefulness, in no small degree, to the 
aid derived from his counsels. And while he was himself 
an eminent example of discretion, he considered this a prime 
qualification in a minister of Christ. When the Rev. Dr. Cor- 

Dr. Porter's Letters on Revivals. 



DR. NETTLETON, 337 

nelius was Secretary of the American Education Society, he 
submitted to Dr. Nettleton a hst of qualifications to be pos- 
sessed by those who should be encouraged to enter the min- 
istry. It read thus. "1. Piety. 2. Talents. 3. Scholar- 
ship. 4. Discretion," " Change the order," said he. "Put 
discretion next to piety." 

The following is an extract of a letter written to a theolo- 
gical student in 1826. " It is very important to a young 
preacher that he avoid a censorious spirit, and that he always 
speak kindly to those who are held in reputation among 
christians. If he labor among such, he had better forego the 
prospect of doing present good, than to lose the confidence of 
these men. I can think of times in the early part, of my 
ministry, when I had no doubt that a given course would be 
blessed to the conversion of many souls. I might have been 
mistaken. At any rate, acquiescence in the judgment of my 
brethren would secure their confidence — and I have been 
astonished to find them so generally willing to allow me to 
adopt my own course. The truth is, all christians are im- 
perfect ; and all our exertions to do good, are attended with 
more or less imperfection. Good measures will be often 
innocently opposed, for the want of experience only. The same 
measures may be very good, or very bad in different places, 
and under different circumstances. The question has often 
been proposed in the public prints, ' What is the best mode of 
dealing with anxious souls V Much may be said and written 
to profit ; but after all, Ave might as well ask and answer the 
question, ' What is the best method of treating all manner of 
sicknesses and all manner of diseases among the people V 
We may talk about the best means of doing good ; but after 
all, the greatest difficulty lies in doing it Math a proper spirit. 
Speaking the truth in love. In meekness instructing those that 
oppose themselves. With the meekness ajid gentleness of Christ. 
I have known anxious sinners drop the subject of religion in 
consequence of a preacher addressing them in an angry tone. 
29 



338 MEMOIR OF 

Mankind, it is true, will be sure to find fault with every thing 
that awakens their fears ; but we should endeavor so to con- 
duct, as to keep their consciences on our side in spite of all 
their opposition. Take care and not give them just cause to 
complain." 

In a letter to the same individual, written in 1827, speaking 
of the measures introduced in the western revivals, he says, 
" It is said that God has blessed these measures to the con- 
version of sinners. The same may be said of female preach- 
ing ; and it may be asked in reference to that, ' How can that 
be wrong which God has blessed to the conversion of a soul V 
I answer, it is an acknowledged fact, that profane swearing, 
opposition to revivals, mock conferences have all been over- 
ruled to the conviction and conversion of sinners. And shall 
we not encourage and defend these things ? The man who 
defends the principle in question appears bad in argument and 
worse in practice. 

" There is, no doubt, a kind of prudence which has ruined 
thousands forever. But the preacher who condemns prudence 
in toto, will soon be forsaken by her inmate. Prov. viii. 12. 
He may drive at the understandings and consciences of his 
hearers with all his might, but there is a point of prudence 
beyond which he cannot pass without losing his entire hold 
on both. Zeal without prudence will defeat its own end. 
Zeal untempered with love and compassion for souls, will soon 
degenerate into harshness and cruelty of manner and expres- 
sion, vi^hich vvill have no other effect on an audience than 
ranting and scolding, and even profane swearing. The result 
in morals will be, what the children of this world denominate 
' penny- wise,' and ' pound-foolish.' It is like cutting off the 
heads of hundreds, to save the life of one man." 

HIS DISINTERESTEDNESS. 

It has already been remarked, that during the ten years in 
which he was laboring almost constantly in revivals, he 



DR. NETTLETON. 339 

received as compensation, barely sufficient to defray his ex- 
penses. But he manifested no solicitude on that subject. At 
a meeting of ministers on one occasion, when he was present 
an allusion was made by some one to the scanty support which 
he received — he replied, by simply repeating the following 
passage of Scripture, Luke xxii. 35 — " When I sent you 
without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing 1 
And they said, nothing." 

The Rev. Dr. Chapin, in a letter from which an extract has 
been made in a former chapter, says, " View him, likewise, 
in relation to money. It is certainly difficult, probably impos- 
sible, to find an active person more entirely free from an ava- 
ricious craving after worldly property, than brother Nettleton 
was while with us, and must indeed have previously been. 
Rather, he manifested the most generous feelings. On find- 
ing a serious person, though indigent, destitute of a Bible, or 
psalm-book, or hymn-book, he would find means of supplying 
the deficiency. He seemed not even to think of accumula- 
ting property. It is believed that while among us, he did not 
volunteer to mention such a subject. When questioned 
touching his property, as he was once, or perhaps, twice — 
his answer was brief, that he was worth little or nothing. 
The inquiry was immediately dropped. Not a particle of 
solicitude or care on such a subject was manifested." * 

* * "In due time the book (his hymn-book) was 
published. Here again, may be seen his pious indifference 
to worldly wealth. Though he continued indigent, and 
though he knew not whether the work would be acceptable 
and find a demand in the market ; yet, supposing it possible 
that the book might be worth somethimg beyond the cost of 
publication, he made a donation of all the profits of the first 
edition to the A. B. C. F. M." The hymn-book had an exten- 
sive sale, and became the source of a large income. " But," 
adds Dr. Chapin, " who ever saw brother Nettleton elated by 
this unexpected result. On the contrary, his disregard of 



340 MEM 01 p. OF 

worldly accumulation appears to have been in proportion to 
Ms worldly success. His donations were now, like his 
income, enlarged. With his habitual generosity, he remem- 
bered those whom he pleasantly called his poets. Those, too, 
were not forgotten, whom he accounted assistants in the pre- 
paration of his book. While in Europe, he made another 
handsome donation to the A. B. C. F. M.* 

" Be it now added, as the crowning proof of brother Net- 
tleton's comparative indifference for money, that he gave a 
noble portion of the income derived from his book, to a The- 
ological Institution. Beyond question, this finishing act of 
his refined benevolence, enlarged, and expansive in the ratio 
of his augmented means, emanated from the same disinterest- 
ed love of souls, and Christ, and salvation by grace, which 
moved him to study and labor so untiringly for the promotion 
of pure revivals." 

RELIGIOUS CHARACTER. 

That Dr. Nettleton was a man of more than ordinary piety, 
will be evident to all who have attentively perused the fore- 
going account of his life. His piety was deep, steady, ope- 
rative, and consistent. " It was not a flame that dazzled for 
a moment, and then flickered and died away." Nor was it 
subject to those alternations of feeling, which are sometimes 
witnessed in emimently good men. Some seem to be always 
in the possession of great spiritual enjoyment, or in the hor- 
rors of thick darkness. Dr. Nettleton's feelings were more 
uniform. He seems never to have been greatly elated, nor 
deeply depressed ; but to have maintained generally a calm 
and peaceful frame of mind. 

" His piety was consistent. There was a beautiful sym- 
metry in his christian character. The various graces of the 
Spirit were harmoniously blended, and exhibited, each in its 

*$500. 



DR. NETTLETON. 341 

proper place, and in its due proportion. It is the nature of 
false religion to be deformed ; and characteristic of all hypo- 
crites, that they strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. But 
the christian character of Dr. Nettleton was formed on prin- 
ciples which enter into all the minutiee of a man's life. He 
was not a stickler for some things, while negligent of others 
equally important. He did not expend all his zeal in oppos- 
ing certain sins, and manifest no opposition to others equall}^ 
heinous. He did not contend earnestly for the faith once 
delivered to the saints, and neglect the practical duties of reli- 
gion. He inculcated alike the doctrines and duties of Chris- 
tianity, and bore testimony against all those sins by which 
God is dishonored, and the souls of men are endangered. 

He was a man oi fixed religious princir)le, and great decision 
of character. By this, is meant, not that he was self-willed, 
and bigoted; but that he conscientiously and steadily adhered 
to what he believed to be right. His opinions were not form- 
ed hastily, ncr taken up upon credit, but were the result of 
deliberate and prayerful examination ; and when formed, they 
were rarely changed. He acted, not from passion, or any 
sudden impulse of the moment, but from principle ; and could 
not be induced to swerve from the path of duty, either by 
flattery, or frowns, or any worldly motive. When entreated 
by one in whom he had reposed great confidence, and whose 
friendship he highly prized, to give up his opposition to certain 
doctrines, which he believed to be erroneous, and of dangerous 
tendency, he replied, " You maght as well ask me to cut off my 
conscience and throw it away." He was not influenced by 
the principles and practices of others, any farther than he was 
satisfied that they were conformed to the word of God. He 
thought for himself, and formed his purposes in the fear of 
God, and with reference to the final judgment. As was said 
of another, " It was not enough for him, that others believed, 
and allowed, and practiced ; — he was not content till he saw 
the reason, and his hands, as it were, handled the evidence. 
29* 



342 MEMOIR OF 

This, with his love of truth, his reverence of the divine au- 
thority, and his sense of obligation, guarded him against rash 
conclusions, and led him cheerfully to renounce whatever he 
found to be erroneous, and to adopt what he found to be in 
accordance with the law and the testimony." 

Humility — was a striking trait in the character of Dr. 
Nettleton. When a young man, he read in an old book this 
maxim : " Do all the good you can in the world, and make 
as little noise about it as possible,'''' This maxim had great 
influence in the formation of his character. He treasured it 
up in his memory, and believing it to be in accordance with 
the precepts of the gospel, he made it a rule of conduct. 
Hence every thing like ostentation, he abhorred. Few men 
ever had greater temptations to the indulgence of pride. His 
great popularity as a preacher, and the almost unparalleled 
success which attended his labors, even while he was but a 
youth, constituted a source of great danger. Many of his 
fathers and brethren in the ministry trembled for him, lest he 
should be lifted up with pride. But he seems to have been 
remarkably delivered from the power of this temptation. Not- 
withstanding his great popularity, he seems not to have been 
elated. He was modest and unassuming, and always sensi- 
ble that the success which attended his labors, was not owing 
to any goodness in himself, but to the sovereign grace of 
God. 

He was well acquainted with the deceitfulness and wick- 
edness of the human heart. He knew, of course, how to form 
a just estimate of his own character. He knew that in the 
sight of God he was vile, and like Job, he abhorred himself. 
He was also sensible of his entire dependence on God, for 
any measure of faithfulness which he might have exhibited 
in his service, and for all the success which had attended his 
labors. This truth he endeavored to keep constantly before 
his mind — when speaking of the revivals, which occurred 



DR. NETTLETON. 343 

under his preaching, he was careful to take no credit to him- 
self, but to give the glory to God, to whom all glory is due. 
He was aware of his danger ; and with much prayer and 
watchfulness guarded against it. When once asked, what 
he considered the best safeguard against spiritual pride, he 
replied, " I know of nothing better than to keep ray eye on my 
great sinfulness." 

Dr. Shepard, of Lenox, says, " He would not suffer any 
one to commend his sermons, or any of his public performan- 
ces, or to speak of the success of his labors, if he could pre- 
vent it; and when any one attempted to praise him in view 
of the good he had done, it seemed directly to fill his heart 
with grief." 

Mr. Cobb, of Taunton, also says, " He was remarkably free 
from the love of applause. When any one spoke to him of the 
good he was doing, he would sometimes reply, ' vre have no 
time to talk about that.' And frequently I have known him to 
turn pale and retire from the company, and prostrate himself 
before God, as a great and unworthy sinner." 

Dr. Nettleton was never forward to speak of his own reli- 
gious experience. To his intimate friends, he would some- 
times open his heart freely. But he was not in the habit of 
referring to himself in his preaching, nor in his ordinary con- 
versation. And it was always painful to him to see others 
disposed on all occasions to talk about themselves. Such a 
practice seemed to him to be adapted to fan the fla.Tie of spir- 
itual pride, and to excite and cherish the prejudices of the 
ungodly, rather than to recommend religion to the Vv'orld. 

Love to the souls of men — was another striking trait 
in the character of Dr. Nettleton. It has been remarked that 
"the mind sometimes receives a bias in conversion, or the 
period of first love, which gives a particular direction to the 
whole course of future life." It may have been so in this case. 
In the period of his espousals to Christ, the worth of the soul 
and the affecting condition of all unrenewed men, were pow- 



344 MEMOIR OF 

erfully impressed upon his mind, and awakened most intense 
desires for their salvation. He used to say to himself, " If I 
might be the means of the salvation of one soul, I should pre- 
fer it to all the riches and honors of this world." It was this 
which prompted him to seek the christian ministry, and to 
persevere amid so many discouragements in his efforts to ob- 
tain a liberal education. It was this which kindled in his 
heart such zeal in the cause of his master, and stimulated him 
to such arduous and unremitted labors. And when through 
loss of health, he was compelled to desist in a great measure 
from active labor, it was still his heart's desire and prayer to 
God for sinners, that they might be saved. He could still say 
with the Psalmist, " If I forget thee, 0, Jerusalem, let my 
right hand forget her cunning ; if I do not remember thee, let 
my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not 
Jerusalem above my chief joy." It was the deep interest 
which he felt in the cause of Zion and the salvation of souls, 
which filled him with such concern in view of the prevalence 
of those errors in doctrine and practice, which he felt it his 
duty to oppose. It was his solemn conviction, that these 
things were introducing a spurious religion, and destroying 
the souls of men, which led him to take a stand against them. 
The following passage in the life of Brainerd exactly expressed 
the feelings which he often manifested. 

" These things I saw with great clearness, when I was 
thought to be dying, and God gave me great concern for his 
church and interest in the world at this time. Not so much 
because the late remarkable influence upon the minds of the 
people was abated, and almost wholly gone, as because the 
false religion, the heats of imagination, and wild and selfish 
commotions of the animal aflJ'ections which attended the work 
of grace, had prevailed so far. This was what my mind dwelt 
upon day and night ; and this to me was the darkest appear- 
ance respecting religion in the land. For it was this chiefly 
that had prejudiced the world against inward religion. This 



DR. NEXT LET ON. 345 

I saw was the greatest misery of all, that so few saw any 
manner of difference between those exercises which are spir- 
itual and holy, and those which have self-love for their 

BEGIx\NING, CEx\TRE, AND END."* 

The deep interest which Dr. Nettleton felt in the cause of 
Zion, and the salvation of souls, is strikingly manifest in his 
letter to Dr. Beecher, written in 1822, and inserted in a former 
chapter. He says, 

" 1 hear frequently from many places Avhere God has, of 
late, poured out his spirit and revived his v>^ork. r\Iy friends 
residing in these places, far and near, either visit me, or write 
to me, and tell me all their joys and sorrows. For a number 
of years, I have kept a list of the names of those who hare 
hopefully experienced religion, and made a public profession 
of it, in these revivals. When far from them, in my retired 
moments, I have often read over their names, and pondered 
on them, and on the scenes th.ey have awakened, with emo- 
tions too big for utterance. I have watched them with anx- 
ious solicitude, and have made particular inquiry about the 
spiritual welfare of each one, as opportunity presented. My 
heart has often been refreshed when some Timothy has 
brought me good tidings of the faith and charity of these young 
converts. No tidings have been more refreshing. I have 
often had occasion to adopt the language of Paul on this very 
subject ; " What thanks can ire render to God again for cdl the 
joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before God." Some few 
indeed have dishonored their profession, have opened afresh 
the wounds of the Saviour, and caused the hearts of his friends 
to bleed. Bunyan says, ' If at any time I heard of such in- 
stances of apostacy among those that have been hopefully 
benefited by my ministiy, I feel worse than if I had followed 
one of my natural children to the grave.' I have lost near and 
dear relatives, but the things of which Bunyan speaks, have 

* Brainerd's Life. p. 498. 



346 



MEMOIR OF 



sometimes struck me with a deeper sadness." Who can read 
this, and doubt that the writer felt a deep interest in the wel- 
fare of Zion and the salvation of souls ? 

Meekness — was another trait in the character of Dr. Net- 
tleton. The success of his labors greatly exasperated the 
enemies of religion, and awakened in their breasts the most 
malignant hostility. False reports, intended to destroy his 
character, were invented and industriously circulated ; and 
in other ways, he frequently met with personal abuse. But 
the malice of his enemies awakened only his pity. So far as 
1 have been able to learn, he was never known to manifest the 
least resentment towards those who slandered and abused 
him. When reviled, he reviled not again. When he suffered 
he threatened not, but committed himself to him whojudgeth 
righteously. He felt himself laid under special obligations 
to pray for his persecutors ; and to the honor of divine grace, 
let it be recorded, not a few of them were hopefully brought 
to repentance, and became some of his most ardent friends. 

He never allowed hiuiself to talk about the ill treatment 
which he received from his enemies, lest it should awaken 
wrong feelings in his heart. He was in the habit of inculca- 
ting upon young converts a spirit of meekness : and for this 
purpose, he often brought before their minds the words of the 
Apostle, 1 Pet. ii. 20, 21, " For what glory is it, if, when ye 
be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently ? but if 
when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently, this is 
acceptable with God ; for even hereunto were ye called ; 
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that 
ye should follow his steps." He also frequently referred to 
this passage. Prov. xxiv. 17, 18, " Rejoice not when thine 
enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stum- 
bleth, lest the Lord see it, and it displease him." He evi- 
dently possessed in an uncommon degree, that charity which 
suffereth long and is kind, which envieth not, which vaunteth 
not itself and is not puffed up, which doth not behave itself 



DR. NETTLETON. 347 

unseemly, which seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, 
thinketh no evil, which beareth all things, believeth all things, 
hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

An unwavering attachment to the doctrines of 
GRACE — was a striking trait in the character of Dr. Nettleton. 
He not only embraced these doctrines in all their fullness, 
and practical application, but '' he may be said to have kept 
the faith with undeviating constancy." Like the thousands 
who were converted on the day of Pentecost, he continued 
steadfast in the Apostles'* doctrine. He was not carried about 
by divers and strange doctrines, but his heart was established 
vv^ith grace. His belief in the great doctrine^ of the cross 
was so interwoven with his religious experience, and so iden- 
tified with all his hopes of future happiness, that his faith 
never wavered. 

He died in the full and firm belief of the doctrines which he 
maintained and defended while he lived. 

But he was not a perfect man. He had his failings. He 
was ready to acknowledge that he was a miserable sinner, 
and that his proper place was at the foot of the cross. But 
his faults were better known to himself and his God, than to 
his fellow-men. 

It is true, he did not escape reproach. His great success 
as a minister of Christ, brought upon him the maledictions of 
infidels and scoffers, and stimulated them to the most unremit- 
ted efforts to destroy his character ; and many a time might he 
have said, " If it had not been the Lord who was on my side 
when men rose up against me, then they had swallowed me up 
quick, when their wrath was kindled against me." But he 
trusted in God, and through his merciful interposition, he esca- 
ped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler.* 

* When Dr. Nettleton was in Virginia, in 1828, a man from Connecticut, who 
was residing there, put in circulation some slanderous reports, which induced 
the Rev. Dr. John H. Rice to write to several distinguished individuals at the 
North, for the purpose of ascertaining how Dr. Nettleton's character was re- 



348 MEMOIR OF 

On account of his opposition to certain doctrines and cer- 
tain measures, he was severely censured by some of his 
brethren in the ministry, and other professed followers of 
Christ. Whether justly or unjustly, the reader will judge, 
after attentively considering what has been said in the prece- 
ding chapters. One thing is certain ; the things for which 

garded by those who had been well acquainted with his history. In reply to his 
letters, many testimonials were forwarded, among which were the following: 

"Yale College, Aug. 23, 1826. 

*' Rev. and Dear Sir : 

"I have most cheerfully obtained the testimonials which you have requested 
in your letter of the 9th. Perhaps this is all which the occasion requires. The 
injurious reports to which you refer, I do not recollect to have heard of before. I 
am now told that they were some years since put in circulation here, examined 
into, and found to be groundless. That they were mere fabrications appears 
evident from this, that up to the present time, Mr. Nettleton's christian charac- 
ter stands as fair as ever in the estimation of the people of Coimecticut, to whom 
he has been so intimately known. Most affectionately yours, 

"Jeremiah Day. 

" Rev. Jolin H. Rice, D. D." 

" The Rev. Asahel Nettleton has been long and extensively known and ac- 
knowledged in this State, as a faithful and devoted minister of Christ ; as a man 
of exemplary piety, of rare self-denial, and of uncommon power and success, in 
his labors as an evangelist. Though occasionally assailed by calumny, his chris- 
tian character is above suspicion, in the view of the ministers and churches in 
this State, to whom he is intimately known, and who have cause for abundant 
gratitude that the blessing of heaven has descended in copious measures upon 
his public ministrations. 

Jeremiah Day, President ofYale College ; 

Leonard Bacon, Pastorof the First Church inNew Haven; 

Nathaniel W. Taylor, Prof, of Didactic Theology ; 

Chauncey a. Goodrich, Prof of Rhetoric ; 

Eleazer T. Fitch, Prof, of Divinity; 

Samuel Me r win, Pastor of the United Society in the City 
of New Haven." 

" Boston, Aug. 22, 1828. 
" Dear Brother : 

"It is, I should think, about ten years since those stories, imported into Virgin- 
ia, by Mr. O. W., have been dead and buried in Connecticut, having served the 
generation of infidels and scoffers, and all haters of evangelical doctrine and of 
revivals, as long as they were able. 

" Never, for a moment, were they believed by the ministers and churches of 



DR. NETTLETON. 349 

he was censured, were things in which he conscientiously 
believed he was doing his duty — things to which he was 
prompted by a supreme regard to the glory of God, and the 
interests of Zion. It is to be hoped, therefore, that those who 
believe him to have erred, will do justice to his motives. 

Connecticut, nor did they do him the least injury, only as they were sent after 
him, or sent for to the places where his preaching was blessed ; nor even then 
only till the friends of religion had opportunity to obtain correct information on 
the subject. It would be difficult for a Virginian to conceive the virulence with 
which some persons in New England oppose revivals of religion, without under- 
standing that in many places where the truth has been preached too faithfully 
to be endured in a state of disobedience, there is often a club of infidels or noth- 
ingarians, whose eiunity is alwa3's made rampant by a revival of -religion, and 
whose ridicule and misrepresentation are sure to be propagated by the irrelig- 
ious and immoral. Such, in my opinion, is the origin of all the stories against 
brother Nettleton in Connecticut. His friends debated the question once, 
whether it might not be his duty to sue, not doubting that he possessed the 
entire power of bringing his accusers to punishment. But the conclusion was, 
with the religious and respectable part of the community, they do him no harm, 
and it will be better for the cause of religion that he hold his peace, and live then,, 
down. This he has done ; and it is out of the power of such men as W. and R. 
S. H. to injure Mr. Nettleton in Connecticut. H., I suppose I know, W. I do 
not. But I know that in S. there was probably a larger club of infidels, or per- 
sons reputed such, than in almost any town in the State. * * * * The 
alleged dissatisfaction with Mr. Nettleton at New Haven is, in my opinion, 
utterly false. I have been often in that city, and am more familiarly acquaint- 
ed there than in any other place in Connecticut, it being the place of my nativity, 
and of my fathers' sepulchres. I do know that Mr. Nettleton possesses emi- 
nently the affection and confidence of the ministers and churches, and most 
respectable laymen in the city. 

"As further evidence of the perfect impotency of all such rumors against Mr. 
Nettleton in Connecticut, I would state that about six years ago, on the failure 
of my health, I left my church and congregation in the care of Mr. Nettleton, 
under whose preaching, before my return, a revival of religion commenced, 
during which he secured eminently the confidence and affection of my people, 
which to this day remains undiminished. In short, there is not a minister in 
New England whose character for piety and purity stands higher than does that 
of Mr. Nettleton. 

"You will receive further communications in due time, for you may rest as- 
sured that we possess the means, and shall not fail to use them, of putting down 
such impudent falsehoods, and of vindicating the well-earned reputation of Mr. 
Nettleton. Affectionately yours, 

" Lyman Beecheb." 
30 



350 MEMOIR. OF 

In Conclusion, it may be said of him as was said of anoth- 
er, " By the grace of God, he was what he was," and to the 
honor of grace, and not for the glory of a sinful worm, be it 
recorded. Like all other men, he was depraved. He felt it, 
and lamented it, and longed to be free from sin, but certainly 
taking him altogether, we have seldom seen a character whose 
excellencies were so many and so uniform, and whose imper- 
fections were so few. We have seen men rise high in con- 
templation, who have abounded but little in action. We have 
seen zeal mingled with bitterness, and candor degenerate 
into indifference ; — experimental religion mixed with a large 

To this letter is appended the following, from the Rev. Dr. Taylor: 

" Dear Brother : 

" Dr. Beecher has sent this to me unsealed, and I take the liberty to add a 
word. What he has said is as it should be — exactly my views of the matter. -I 
should only object to further means of putting down these 'impudent false- 
hoods.' I think I know brother Nettleton too well to suppose he would wish it. 
If such testimonials as this of Dr. Beecher and others are not sufficient to give 
brother Nettleton a character in Virginia, in defiance of the obloquy of his ene- 
mies and his Master's, he had better come back to Connecticut. The ministers 
and churches would be glad to receive him, and highly appreciate his labors. 
These slanders are simply the 'homage vice pays to virtue.' 'Wo unto you, 
when all men shall speak well of you.' Brother Nettleton is safe from this de- 
nunciation. I am affectionately yours, 

" N. Yy. Taylor." 

" New Haven, Sept. 17, 1828. 
" We, the undersigned, having been for many years acquainted witli the chai 
acter of the Rev. Asahel Nettleton, do hereby certify that we consider him as a 
man of unblemished purity of life ; that we believe this to be the estimation in 
which he is universally held in this town, and in this State; and that no fact has 
ever come to our knowledge, which ought to impair the confidence of the public 
in his character as a christian and a man. 

David Daggett, Benjamin Silliman, 

Simeon Baldwin, J. Knight, 

Noah Webster, Eli Ives, 

Elizur Goodrich, J. L. Kingsley. 

Similar testimonials were forwarded by other distinguished gentlemen, both 
in New England and Nev/ York ; particularly by the Hon. John Cotton Smith, 
of Connecticut ; and by the Rev. Drs. Spring, Mc Auley, and Proudfit, and by 
the Hon. Jonas Piatt, of New York. 



DR. NETTLE TON. 351 

portion of enthusiasm, and what is called rational religion, 
void of every thing that interests the heart of man. We have 
seen splendid talents tarnished with insufferable pride, serious- 
ness with melancholy, cheerfulness with levity, and great at- 
tainments in religion with uncharitable censoriousness towards 
men of low degree ; but v/e have not seen these things in 
[Nettleton.] 

" There have been but few men in whom have been united 
a greater proportion of the contemplative and active ; holy 
zeal and genuine candor ; spirituality and rationality ; talents 
that attracted almost universal applause, and the most unaf- 
fected modesty ; faithfulness in bearing testimony against evil, 
with the tenderest compassion to the soul of the evil doer ; 
fortitude that would encounter any difficulty in the way of 
duty, without any thing boisterous, noisy, or overbearing ; deep 
seriousness with habitual cheerfulness ; and a constant aim to 
promote the highest degrees of piety in himself and others, 
with a readiness to hope the best of the lowest, not breaking 
the bruised reed, nor quenching the smoking flax."* 

Since the foregoing was written, the following letters have 
been received. The first is from the Rev. Dr. Tenney, late 
pastor of the church in Wethersfield, Conn.; and the other 
from the Rev. Dr. Flumphrey, late President of Amherst Col- 
lege. They were both intimately acquainted with Dr. Net- 
tleton ; and 1 am happy to jfind such a coincidence of views 
between them and myself, in regard to the character of this 
distinguished servant of Jesus Christ. 

Dr. Tenney says, " My particular acquaintance with Dr. 
Nettleton commenced in 1818, while he was laboring in a revi- 
val in Rocky Hill, a parish in Wethersfield. My acquaintance 
became intimate during nearly three months of his labors with 
me in a great revival, in the winter of 1820-21. I have felt 
that he was a remarkable man — fitted to draw forth the often 

* Fuller's Memoir of Pearce. 



352 MEMOIP^ OF 

repeated saying of a venerable President of a distinguished 
College, respecting him — •' a wonderfully wise man ! ' He was 
distinguished for a ready, clear, correct, and far-reaching per- 
ception, or discernment. Almost as by intuition, he discerned 
individual characters, and seemed to see the precise truth 
fitted to reprove, or benefit them. At once, he seemed to learn 
the state of a church and people ; and to see doctrines and 
errors, and all their bearings and tendencies, and to bring 
them instantly to v^^hat he regarded as the supreme test, the 
word of God. In the scriptures, he was mighty. He had 
evidently studied the word of God much, and deeply, and 
seemed to perceive the exact purport and design of a verse, a 
paragraph, or larger portion, and to see its precise application 
and force. He entered so much into the very meaning and 
spirit of the word of God, that on almost any passage he 
would so naturally and strikingly present the meaning, as to 
appear singularly original. Conversing at one time in my 
study, with a number who had for a considerable period 
indulged hope, but who were disposed to hesitate and delay in 
professing religion, he turned to Luke viii. 45, 48, and briefly 
stated, that the diseased woman feared and trembled {ahev she 
had been healed by touching Christ in the crowd,) when she 
perceived that Christ would bring her and the miracle to pub- 
lic view. And well she might tremble, said he, for she had 
been stealing a cure, and meant to conceal herself in the mul- 
titude ; and now she expected reproof from Christ ; but when 
she confessed the whole, before all the people, he said to her, 
' Daughter, be of good cheer, thy faith hath made thee whole, 
go in peace.' He then guarded the converts against conceal- 
ing among the multitude, what Christ had done for them, or 
fearing his rebuke, if they confessed him before all the people. 
" To a man of education, and of a very proud spirit, who 
under some seriousness of mind, had a private interview with 
Dr. Nettleton, who said at its close, ' Mr. Nettleton, I will 
thank you not to speak of my case to any one, for it is doubt- 



Dll. NETTLE TOx\. 353 

iLil yet what the result will be,' he at once replied, ' I agree 
with you perfectly, that it is best your case should not be 
known ; and I engage to keep it entirely to myself, and if you 
will do the same, it will not be known. It is as you say, very 
doubtful how the case will turn. You may soon give up the 
subject, and lose your souL' Under this remark, the man was 
soon so deeply distressed that he cared not if the whole v/orld 
knew it ; and very soon he found peace. 

" When a person once asked me with a supercilious air, 
' Do you, according to the Assembly's Catechism, believe that 
God has foreordained whatsover comes to pass V Dr. Nettle- 
ton, coming up at that moment, said to him in reply, ' Mr. 

P do 7/ou believe that God worketh all things after the 

counsel of his own will?^ Perpetually did his ready and clear 
discernment of men and things exhibit itself. This gave him 
power in conversation, in the room for inquiry, and in the 
pulpit. Clear minds always present truth in a clear, simple, 
and convincing style. He did so eminently. The word of 
God, in his hands, was indeed a sharp two edged sword that 
pierced, and was a discerner of the thoughts and intents of 
the heart. His preaching was emphatically ' in demonstration 
of the spirit and with power.' There was not the least attempt 
at display. He w*as ahvays hidden behind his subject, and 
he w^ould present that so clearly, and naturally, and justly, and 
strikingly, that his hearers were filled with the light of truth, 
rather than admiration of the man. He addressed the reason 
and consciences of men in a way not to excite their animal 
passions, or any outbreak of feeling ; but to reach, and search, 
and move the deepest sensibilities of their souls. This did, 
under him, as it does in every case, secure the utmost still- 
ness, the most fixed, and almost breathless attention, and the 
most profound solemnity. His was the eloquence of thought, of 
truth, of living, burning truth from the living God. In such 
eloquence I have never known him surpassed — seldom equaled. 
The Spirit of God was in it. His preaching seemed in perfect 
30* 



1 



854 



MEMOIR OF 



harmony with the word of God, and with the influences of 
the Spirit upon the minds of men. 

" In revivals of religion, he appeared to be peculiarly at 
home. He had evidently been, in his own conviction and 
conversion, very thoroughly taught of God, and had also made 
the work of the Spirit a subject of deep study. If he laid 
stress on what some regarded as little things, it was because 
he clearly saw the important bearings of little, as well as great 
things. Some of his movements in going from one place to 
another, sometimes appeared strange, because others saw not, 
and he was not wont to expose, all the reasons which gov- 
erned his conduct. It was his consts.nt aim to keep a church 
humble, sensible of their dependence, and prayerful, He 
seemed perfectly to understand the circumstances, and agents 
opposed to revivals, and how to counteract them. He 
preached the great evangelical doctrines which exalt God and 
abase man. He preached the sovereignty of God, in all its 
extent and bearings, and equally the infinite obligations of man. 
He had the most wonderful talent of waking up the conscience, 
and bringing it in to the utmost activity. He drove sinners with 
masterly skill from one excuse and refuge after another, till 
he drove them, through the aids of the Spirit, to total despair, 
except in the mercy of God through a Redeemer. He preached 
and labored in revivals in so wise a manner, as to render reli- 
gion and revivals real and respectable, in the view of intelli- 
gent men, and many of the best cultivated minds, and in the 
highest walks of life, were drawn over to the cross, instead 
of being driven off by low, or extravagant measures to a 
returnless distance from their own denomination and religion. 
He had no sympathy with '■ anxious seats' — with the plan of 
calling upon thoughtful sinners in an assembly to bow their 
heads, and follow him in a form of consecrating themselves to 
God— nor of urging anxious sinners to speak and pray in a 
meeting for inquiry — nor of urging converts at once to exhort 
and pray, or tell their experience in public meetings. He 



DR. NETtLETON. 355 

never raised among converts a company of exhorters and lay 
preachers, much more ready, whenever they could get an 
opportunity, to speak than to hear, to exhort than to receive 
instruction, to edify others by their own prayers, than to be 
edified by the prayers of older and more experienced chris- 
tians. Converts under his labors were humble and teachable, 
and felt that, at most, they were babes in Christ, and needed 
the sincere milk of the word. Their disposition was the very 
opposite of self-contidence, arrogance, and denunciation of 
others less engaged than themselves. Still they were ready 
to every good work in their proper sphere, and with all 
becoming meekness and humility. He led them to hold 
prayer meetings among themselves, and they became united 
together in bands of love that could not be easily broken. 

" The converts, with very few exceptions, were eminently 
intelligent and sound ; and proved by their subsequent lives 
that they possessed the power as well as the form of godliness. 
The revivals in which he labored were emphatically pure, 
genuine revivals of true religion, as much so as any I have 
ever known. The churches were greatly humbled, refreshed 
and strengthened by them. The addition of converts to them, 
was an addition, with very fev) exceptions, not merely of 
numbers, but of light, strength, life, and influence. Congre- 
gations were increased by those who became, if not pious, 
constant attendants on public worship. Parishes were greatly 
strengthened, and pastors were more firmly established in the 
affection and confidence of their people. This was the inva- 
riable result where he labored in connection with a pastor. 
Invariably, pastors found themselves greatly improved and 
benefited by intercourse with him, and by his labors. Dr. 
Nettleton was very careful never to get into the pastor's place, 
but to keep him prominently before the people, as their regu- 
lar spiritual guide. He delighted to strengthen the hands of 
the regular shepherd, and frowned on the slightest insinuation 
against him. 



356 M E M O I R O F 

" On the whole, revivals under his preaching were blessings 
to the churches, to the parishes, to the pastors, and to multi- 
tudes of souls who were born into the kingdom of Christ ; and 
most devout gratitude is due to the Great Head of the church 
for raising up a man so remarkable for doing great good and 
no hurt, in such delightful, as well as perilous times. 

" Most truly yours, 

" C. J. Tenney." 

Dr. Humphrey says, " It having pleased God to call our 
beloved brother Nettleton home to his everlasting rest, I rejoice 
to learn that you have consented to prepare a me^noir of his 
eminently useful and devoted life, and that the volume is ready 
for the press. 

" As it was one of the highest privileges of my life, to enjoy 
his acquaintance and friendship for more than thirty years, and 
as you have been pleased to ask me for my impressions of the 
man, of the characteristics of his preaching, of his manner of 
laboring in revivals, and of their permanent influence upon the 
churches and congregations where he labored, I do not feel at 
liberty altogether to decline. When such a man as Dr. Net- 
tleton dies, who can refrain from ' magnifying the grace of God 
that was in him V I only regret my inability to do it worthily, 
under the most favorable circumstances ; and that my pressing 
engagements will not allow me time for any thing more than a 
hasty outline. 

" Not having seen a word of your memoir, I cannot tell 
how far your judgment and my own may coincide, and I am 
glad of it. What you want, are my impressions and not those 
of yourself, or any other man ; and you shall have them un- 
borrowed and unmodified. 

" In my estimation, Dr. Nettleton was a great man — not 
great, merely as he was good, but great, in the common mean- 
ing of the term. He was not a learned man. His Master 
never gave him time to distinguish himself as a scholar. He 



DR. NETTLETON. 357 

had too much work for him to do m his vineyard, to allow it. 
Though he had a good substantial public education, Dr. Net- 
lleton made no pretentions to high attainments in classical 
literature, or in any of the abstruse sciences. In the latter, 
he might have excelled, had not his soul been fired with 
higher and holier aims. 

'■' In his theology, Dr. Nettleton was neither a ' high nor a 
low' Calvinist. While he admired the illustrious Genevan 
Reformer, and subscribed, ex animo, to all the leadino- doc- 
trines of his immortal institutes, he called neither Calvin, nor 
any other man master. He was an Edwardean, rather than 
a high Calvinist ; and yet profound as his veneration was for 
that ' greatest of theologians,' as Dr. Chalmers styles Pres- 
ident Edwards, he thought it his duty to investigate every sub- 
ject for himself. With his little duodecimo Bible, or his 
Greek Testament always in his hands, he was one of the 
most independent thinkers that I have ever known. He was, 
I might almost say, the last man to be captivated with vision- 
ary theories, or fanciful analogies and interpretations. Upon 
the ' foundation of the xA.postles and Prophets, Jesus Christ 
himself being the chief corner stone,' he stood like a pillar 
upon the everlasting rock. Nothing could shake him. 
Whether he ever drew out his system on paper, I do not 
know ; but if he did, it will be found eminently scriptural, 
lucid and symmetrical — nothing more and nothing less, than 
sound, well digested and well guarded New England ortho- 
doxy. 

" As a preacher, Dr. Nettleton had many superiors, in what 
commonly goes under the name of pulpit eloquence. There 
was nothing particularly captivating in his voice, in his style, 
or his delivery — nothing to make you admire the man, or his 
writing, or his speaking ; or in any way to divert your atten- 
tion from the truths which he uttered. His prayers w^ere 
generally short, and always fervent, scriptural and appropriate. 

When he rose to speak, there was a benignant solemnity in 



358 MEMOIR OF 

his countenance, which awed the most thoughtless into seri- 
ousness, while at the same time it exerted an unwonted desire 
to hear what he had to say. He had a voice of more than 
ordinary compass and power ; and though there was nothing 
harsh or repulsive in its modulations, you sometimes regretted 
that he had not enjoyed better early advantages for training it. 
He always commenced on a low key, enunciating every word 
and syllable so distinctly, hovv^ever, as to be heard without 
difficulty, in the remotest parts of the house. So simple were 
his sentences, so plain and unadorned was his style, and so 
calm was his delivery, that for a few moments, you might 
have thought him dull and sometimes even common place, but 
for the glance of his piercing eye, and an undefinable some- 
thing in his whole manner, which insensibly gained and riv- 
eted your attention. As he advanced, and his heart grew 
warm, and his conceptions vivid, his voice caught the inspi- 
ration ; his lips seemed to be ' touched with a live coal from 
off the altar ;' his face shone ; every muscle and feature 
spoke ; his tones were deep and awfully solemn ; his gestures, 
though he never flourished off a prettiness in his life, were 
natural, and at times exceedingly forcible. But his eye, after 
all, was the master power in his delivery. Full and clear and 
sharp, its glances, in the most animated parts of his dis- 
courses were quick and penetrating, beyond almost any thing 
I recollect ever to have witnessed. He seemed to look every 
hearer in the face, or rather to look into his soul, almost at 
one and the same moment. You felt that you was in the 
hands of a master, and never stopped to inquire whether he 
was a good or a bad pulpil orator. Whatever the critics 
might say, in one thing you could not be mistaken. He 
arrested your attention, and made you feel, for the time at 
least, that religion is indeed ' the one thing needful.' 

Dr. Nettleton's delivery was always solemn, always earn- 
est, and not seldom even vehement. This was particularly 
the case in the height of those numerous and powerful revi- 



DR.NETTLETON. 359 

vals in the midst of which he labored for so many years. 
The action of his mind was intense. The yearnings of his 
soul over the impenitent were irrepressible. His counte- 
nance, his voice, every thing showed it. iVnd yet, incredible 
as it may seem, in his most impassioned appeals, there was 
not a particle of enthusiasm. By this I mean, that he was 
never hurried away into any extravagance of language, or ^ 
emotion. He never, for one moment, lost the balance of his 
mind. He was always perfectly self-possessed. I have seen 
him in circumstances of overpowering interest, when the 
movements of the Spirit were ' like a mighty rushing wind,' 
and could never perceive any wavering in his judgment or his 
prudence. He was ever the same in the pulpit, in the lec- 
ture-room, and in the inquiry meeting — always earnest and 
solemn, but never carried away by his feelings, beyond the 
bounds of propriety. 

" Dr. Nettleton's sermons were plain, solid, evangelical, 
instructive and directly to the purpose. He always knew 
what he aimed at, and he seldom, if ever, missed his mark. 
Dodging was of no avail. His style was perfectly unadorn- 
ed. Tropes and metaphors he never sought for ; and I am 
not aware that they ever obtruded themselves upon his ima- 
gination. What he aimed at was to present the truth, the 
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, to his hearers, in the 
plainest and most forcible language he could command. 

•' The great power of his preaching consisted in its perspi- 
cuity, its directness, its fearless exhibition of the most un- 
welcomed truths of the Bible, and its earnest, solemn, and 
often terrific appeals to the conscience. No preacher that I 
ever heard, could make the law thunder louder in the sinner's 
ear. The sword of the spirit was his only weapon ; and he 
wielded it with extraordinary dexterity and effect. Few 
ministers, I believe, have ever studied the windings of the 
natural heart, with more diligence and success, than he did. 
Hence, those masterly analyses, which used so often to star- 



360 MEMOIR OF 

tie his hearers, as if all their thoughts had been suddenly laid 
open to the public gaze. In reviewing the history of Dr. 
Nettleton's life and labors, it is ast clear to me that God raised 
him up to spend his best days in promoting revivals of reli- 
gion, as that he raised up Whitefield for the same service on 
a vv^ider theatre. They were as unlike in many respects, as 
any two great revival preachers could be, but they had ' one 
Lord and one faith' — the same love for souls, and the same 
irrepressible desire to win as many of them as possible, to 
Christ. Each was fitted for the age in which he lived, and 
for the work to which he was called — Whitefield to blow the 
trumpet over the dead and buried formalism of the churches, 
both in Great Britain and America; Nettleton, to 'strengthen 
the things that remained and were ready to die' in destitute 
churches of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and 
Virginia ; and to help the brethren in gathering their spiritual 
harvests. 

" Having no pastoral charge to confine him, and no family 
to provide for, and living, I may say for years, in the midst of 
these ' mighty works,' he was under better advantages for 
observing all the ' diversities of operations by the Spirit,' 
which are disclosed in ' times of refreshing,' than any of his 
immediate predecessors, or early contemporaries ; and his 
Master had endowed him with the requisite gifts, both intel- 
lectual and moral, to make the most of these advantages. 
Shrewd, (pardon the epithet, as no other would so exactly 
express it,) observing, cautious, discriminating, and at the 
same time, ' fervent in spirit,' and mightily ' constrained by 
the love of Christ,' he was most happily guarded against 
feverish impulses on the one hand, and antinomian presump- 
tion on the other. Enjoying, as he did, for so many years, 
the best possible opportunity for studying the theory of revi- 
vals, his benevolent, inquisitive and ardent mind would not 
allow him to rest satisfied, without putting it to the most rigid 
test of scripture, experience and observation. Herein he 



DR. NETTLETON. 361 

was in the truest sense a christian philosopher, and his phi- 
losophy was strictly Baconian. It consisted in observing 
phenomena and recording facts. I have long thought, and it 
is still my deliberate conviction, that he understood the whole 
subject of revivals, better than any man with whom I ever 
conversed or labored. He had studied it more profoundly. 
Indeed no man could well be a more perfect master of his 
business or profession. Neither Caesar nor Napoleon ever 
studied the art of war with greater assiduity, than he did the 
heavenly art of winning souls to Christ. This may seem 
extravagant — I presume it will to some readers ; but why 
should it ? Had he not far higher motives for bending all the 
energies of his mind to learn how to save men, than they 
could have had for learning how to destroy them ? 

" But you wish me to say something of his maimer of 
laboring in revivals, and of their general character under his 
preaching and management. This I am the more ready to 
do, from having had the best opportunities to observe and 
judge in one of them, which I have often since heard him 
speak of as among the most powerful he ever witnessed. 
He was with me three months, day and night, during which 
I saw and heard every thing. I was anxious to learn all I 
could from one whose labors had been so eminently owned 
and blessed by the Divine Head of the church, and not being, 
if I may say it, of an enthusiastical temperament myself, I 
think I was enabled to form a pretty correct judgment of his 
preaching, of his daily intercourse with sinners in every stage 
of awakening and conversion, and of the effect of those 
measures which he had been testing in scores of other revi- 
vals. 

" It has been said, that in such seasons, we ought to look 
to God continually in fervent believing prayer, just as if he 
was the sole agent in carrying on the work, and at the same 
time, to labor with all our might, just as if we had it all to do 
ourselves. This was Dr. Nettleton's view of the matter, and 
31 



362 MEMOIR OF 

no man, perhaps, ever more fully carried it out in practice 
than he did. In his creed, the whole process of awakening, 
conviction and regeneration, was by the sovereign and special 
agency of the Holy Spirit. For this he prayed, and exhort- 
ed others to pray without ceasing, while at the same time, he 
labored with as much assiduity for the conversion of sinners, 
as if his Master had devolved the whole responsibility upon 
him. His theory was, that while ' the excellency of the 
power is all of God,' he works by means, no less in the moral 
than in the natural world. This led him to study the econo- 
my of grace in revivals, with the deepest interest ; and as the 
result of it, to adopt the measures and use the means which 
seemed to him best adapted to the end. 

" I do not say that his manner of conducting revivals, was 
in all respects the best that could have been adopted ; much 
less that it would be best for every minister ; but I have yet 
to learn, that a better and safer system of measures has been 
devised. Taken as a whole, it commends itself, to my judg- 
ment and observation, as eminently wise and guarded and 
scriptural. It was characterized by a deep and profound 
knowledge of human nature, as I think might easily be shown, 
did my limits permit. Let those who come after, improve 
upon it, or devise a better if they can. While I am far from 
believing that nothing remains to be learned in the heavenly 
art of winning souls to Christ, quite sure I am, that few if any 
of those professed revivalists who have succeeded Dr. Nettle- 
ton, and made the most noise in the churches, are the men to 
* show us a more excellent way.' They have done what they 
could with strong lungs, startling appeals, new measures, and 
sweeping denunciations, and the blighting effects are truly 
mournful. In some wide districts which they have overrun, 
it is to be feared the churches will not recover from the des- 
olating irruption for half a century. Most unwarrantable is 
the appeal which they sometimes make to Dr. Nettleton, as 
their fore-runner and exemplar. Nothing gave him so much 



DR. NETTLETON. 363 

concern, during the latter years of his life, as the manner in 
which revivals were corrupted and brought into discredit and 
run down, by noisy, rash and impetuous evangelists. It 
grieved him to the heart, that so many churches in the land 
were ready to countenance them, and he earnestly protested 
against their errors and extravagances, to the day of his death. 
Though he would not deny, that there might be some real 
conversions in the great excitements which attended their 
preaching, it was his solemn and painful conviction, that mul- 
titudes were deceived with false hopes, who, under different 
instruction and measures, might have been brought to a saving 
knowledge of the truth. 

" In his own management in times of revivals, by preaching 
and personal intercourse, nothing was more deserving of being 
studied and imitated, than his tlwroiigliness, caution and dis- 
crimination. In these respects, there was a heaven-wide dif- 
ference between Dr. Nettleton and some of the most noted 
of his professed imitators. Being thoroughly 'rooted and 
grounded in the truth' himself, his presentations of it were 
clear, pungent and searching. His revival topics were sys- 
tematically and admirably arranged. In his discourses he 
began at the beginning. A full believer in the total depravity 
of the human heart, he arraigned sinners, whether young or 
old, as rebels against God, and made the threatenings of the 
law thunder in their ears, as but few preachers have power to 
do. With him, acting as an ambassador of Christ, there was 
no such thing as compromise. The rebels must ' throw down 
their arms,' and submit unconditionally, or he would give them 
no hope of pardon. Hundreds, if not thousands, can witness, 
what a terrible dissecter he was of the 'joints and the mar- 
row.' At the same time that he showed the impenitent they 
were lost, he made them feel that they had ' destroyed them- 
selves.' It was difficult to say which he made plainest, their 
danger or their guilt ; their immediate duty to repent, or the 
certainty that without being drawn and renewed by the Spirit 



364 MEMOIR OP 

of God, they never would repent. It was in vain for them to 
retreat from one refuge to another. He was sure to strip 
them of all their vain excuses, and deliver them over to their 
consciences, to be dealt with according to law and justice. 
He preached what are called the hard doctrines, such as 
divine sovereignty, election, and regeneration, with great 
plainness, discrimination and power. His grand aim was to 
instruct, convince and persuade ; to this end, his appeals were 
constantly made to the understanding, the conscience and the 
heart. The passions he never addressed, nor were his dis- 
courses at all calculated to excite them. Any outbreak of 
mere animal feeling, he was always afraid of, as tending to 
warp the judgment, and beget false hopes. His grand aim 
was to instruct his hearers as thoroughly, and point out the 
difference between true and spurious conversion so clearly, 
as to make it difficult for them to get hopes at all, without ood 
spiritual evidence on which to found them. Knowing how 
apt persons are to cling to their hopes, whether good or bad, 
he depended much more upon holding them back, till they 
had good evidence, than upon shaking them from their false 
foundations. 

" As might have been expected under such a course of 
instruction, the great majority of those who came out and pro- 
fessed religion, so far as I have had opportunity to observe, 
have ' worn well.' They have proved intelligent, stable and 
consistent christians. The revivals under Dr. Nettleton's 
preaching, always strengthened the churches, and strength- 
ened the pastors where they had them. I do not believe that 
an instance to the contrary can be adduced from the whole 
wide field of his labors, nor that a single church can be pointed 
out, which does not to this day feel their blessed influence. 
How different from the sad experience of hundreds of churches, 
congregations, and ministers, under the sway of bold, and 
reckless, and disorganizing revivalists. How many once 
united and flourishing churches, have been divided or broken 



DR. NETTLETON. 365 

up, and how many worthy pastors have been undermined and 
driven away by them. ' By their fruits ye shall know them.' 
* The fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is.' 
Brought to these tests, all the great revivals under Dr. Net- 
tleton's labors, will stand on the records of the church, in stri- 
king contrast, as so many bright evidences of his wisdom, 
fidelity, and eminent usefulness. 

" Thus, my dear brother, have I complied w4th your 
request, as fully as time and limits would allow. 1 might 
have said much more, and should have been glad to have put 
down many striking facts and incidents, which fell under my 
own observation in the revival at Pittsfield, as illustrative of 
Dr. Nettleton's eminent qualifications for the great work to 
which his Master called him. But the foregoing hasty and 
very imperfect outline must suffice. ' His record is on high,' 
and his 'name will be had in everlasting remembrance.' I 
have no doubt, that amid the glories of the millenial day, and 
the brighter glories of heaven, he will stand conspicuous on 
the catalogue of those, who, ' having turned many to righteous- 
ness, will shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the 
stars forever and ever.' 

'' I am very sincerely and affectionately 

Yours, H. Humphrey. 

" Amherst College, Augusts, 1844." 

The following letter from a distinguished layman, has been 
received since the publication of the first edition of this work. 

" Augusta, Me., Jan. 1, 1845. 
" Respected Sir, 
" While employing the evening of life in reading such of the 
various publications of this enlightened age as come within my 
reach, your Memoir of Dr. Nettleton has been put into my 
hands, which has so absorbed my attention, that I could not 
dismiss it until I had reached the last page. Surely the char- 
acter of this excellent man deserves a place in our religious 
31* 



366 MEMOIR OF 

annals ; and I am happy to find it so ably and minutely execu- 
ted and laid before the public for the benefit of future genera- 
tions. Here is abundant proof that the uncorrupted doctrines 
of Calvin, drawn from the scriptures of truth, are the weapons 
which the Holy Spirit chooses to employ in the conviction and 
conversion of sinners ; and a complete practical refutation of 
all attempts to change or modify those doctrines, in order to 
render them palatable to the views of the carnal mind. And 
it must be a source of high satisfaction to you, sir, to witness 
in the ministerial career of Dr. Nettleton, such ample proof 
that the doctrines you have contended for, have been so con- 
spicuously owned and acknowledged by the Holy Spirit. And 
we have the attestation of an inspired Apostle, that the weap- 
ons of the gospel ministry ' are not carnal, but mighty through 
God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imagin- 
ations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the 
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought 
to the obedience of Christ.' 

" The character of this sainted hero may be further illustra- 
ted by a quotation from Pollok, one of his favorite authors, with 
which I conclude. 

' High in the temple of the living God 
He stood amidst the people, and declared 
Aloud the truth, the whole revealed truth, 
Ready to seal it with his blood. Divine 
Resemblance most complete ; with mercy now 
And love, his face illumed, shone gloriously : 
And frowning now indignantly, it seemed 
As if offended Justice, from his eye, 
Streamed forth vindictive wrath ! Man heard, 
Th' uncircumcised infidel believed ; 
Light-thoughted mirth grew serious and wept ; 
The laugh profane sunk in a sigh of deep 
Repentance ; the blasphemer, kneeling, prayed, 
And prostrate in the dust, for mercy called. 
Such was his calling, his commission such. 
Yet he was humble, kind, forgiving, meek, 
Easy to be entreated, gracious, mild ; 
Aad with all patience and affection, taught, 



DR. NEXT LET ON, 367 

Rebuked, persuaded, solaced, counseled, warned. 
In fervent style and manner. 

A skillful workman he 
In God's great moral vine5'ard , what to prune 
With cautious hand he knew, what to uproot ; 
What were mere weeds, and what celestial plants 
Which had immortal vigor in them, knew ; 
Nor knew alone, but watched them night and day, 
And reared and nourished them, till fit to be 
Transplanted to the paradise above. 

Oh, who can speak his praise ! great humble man ! 
He in the current of destruction stood. 
And warned the sinner of his wo ; led on 
Immanuel's soldiers in the evil day, 
And with the everlasting arms embraced 
Himself around, stood in the dreadful front 
Of battle high, and warred victoriously 
With death and hell. And noiv in come his rest, 
His triumph day.'' [Course of Time pp. 200, 201, 

" With respect and esteem, I am, dear Sir, 

" Your obedient servant, 

"H. Sewall." 



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1 1 1 Thomson ParK Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 1 60K 
(724) 779-21 1 1 



